PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team split a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader with SUNY New Paltz on Saturday afternoon at Cardinal Park. Plattsburgh State lost the first game, 4-1, before winning the second game, 7-5.
With the split, Plattsburgh State is now 3-5 (3-5 SUNYAC) on the season and New Paltz is 1-3 (1-3 SUNYAC).
Game 1: SUNY New Paltz 4, Plattsburgh State 1
Plattsburgh State took an early 1-0 lead, but SUNY New Paltz scored four unanswered runs to hand the Cardinals a 4-1 setback in game one.
After neither team scored in the first inning, sophomore first baseman
Rebecca Diller (Halfmoon, N.Y./Shenendehowa) hit her second home run of the season – a solo blast to left-center field – to give Plattsburgh State a 1-0 lead.
However, Plattsburgh State would not score again as starting pitcher Lindsay Roman (1-1) settled in for New Paltz in the circle. Roman would hold the Cardinals to four hits total as she tossed a seven-inning complete game. She struck out seven batters, while walking two.
New Paltz took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning when designated player Nina Simms scampered home after a Cardinal error and center fielder Sydney Bonewit scored on an RBI single off the bat of catcher Madison Rappold.
The Hawks tacked on another run to make the score 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Simms drove in left fielder Carol Ann Campsey from third base with a RBI groundout to the second baseman.
The Cardinals had an opportunity in the bottom of the fourth inning when senior second baseman
Bella Spadinger (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker) walked and Diller singled through the left side to put runners on first and second base with one out. However, the next two batters would be retired to end the Cardinal threat.
The score remained 3-1 until the top of the sixth inning when the Hawks scored the final run of the game to make the score 4-1. Pinch runner Isabella Shepherd raced home on an RBI ground out to second base off the bat of pinch hitter Lauren Shambo.
Plattsburgh State was not able to score again as the Cardinals lost, 4-1.
Sophomore pitcher
Julia Golino (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) tossed a seven-inning complete game for the Cardinals. Golino, who is now 0-3 on the season, allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits. She struck out four and walked four.
Game 2: Plattsburgh State 7, SUNY New Paltz 5
Plattsburgh State's bats came alive in game two as the Cardinals completed a 7-5 victory over SUNY New Paltz in game two.
Each team scored one run in the first inning to make the score 1-1. Simms stole home as part of a double steal for the Hawks, before Diller continued her strong start to the season with an RBI single up the middle that scored sophomore right fielder
Alexa Murray (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue).
New Paltz pulled back in front, 2-1, on an RBI single by shortstop Rhionna Bianchini in the top of the second inning. However, Plattsburgh State took the lead, 3-2, on a two-run single off the bat of sophomore center fielder
Kristen Langdon (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) in the bottom half of the inning.
In a repeat of how New Paltz scored in the first inning, Simms stole home as part of a double steal to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the third inning.
Plattsburgh State would then score two runs in the bottom of the third inning and two more runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-3 lead. In the third inning, graduate student-left fielder
Frannie Merkel (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) drove in two runs on a single down the right-field line. Senior shortstop
Alexandra Clifford (Clifton Park, N.Y./ Shenendehowa) drove in the Cardinals' final two runs of the game with a double to left field in the fourth inning.
Sophomore starting pitcher
Kristina Maggiacomo (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) worked out of trouble in the fifth inning to keep Plattsburgh State in front, 7-3. New Paltz loaded the bases with two outs on a single and a couple of walks, but Maggiacomo got the final batter of the inning to fly out.
New Paltz made the score 7-5 when Simms hit a two-run double to center field in the sixth inning.
The Hawks would threaten again in the seventh inning as they put runners on first and third base with nobody out, but Maggiacomo retired the next three batters, including a strikeout to end the game.
With the win, Maggiacomo improved to 3-2 on the season. Maggiacomo held the Hawks to five runs (four earned) on 11 hits over seven innings pitched. She struck out five and walked three.
Katie Quagliana, who started in the circle for New Paltz, fell to 0-1 on the season. She was charged with five runs – all earned – on eight hits over two innings pitched. She walked one and struck out one.
