CORTLAND, N.Y. – Senior right-hander Matt Triola (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) pitched well for Plattsburgh State in game two, but the Cardinals dropped both ends of a twin bill at SUNY Cortland on Friday afternoon at Robert H. Wallace Field. The Cardinals dropped game one, 18-4, and game two, 3-2, in eight innings. Game two was scheduled for seven innings.

Plattsburgh State is now 3-9 (2-6 State University of New York Athletic Conference [SUNYAC]) and Cortland is 17-3, (8-0 SUNYAC) on the season.
 
Game 1: SUNY Cortland 18, Plattsburgh State 4
 
SUNY Cortland scored 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning and Plattsburgh State was unable to come back in game one as the Cardinals lost, 18-4.
 
Plattsburgh State scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning to go in front, 1-0. Senior shortstop Stephen Bryant (Center Moriches/Center Moriches) scored from third base when first-year first baseman Zachary Stone (New Spring Hill, Fla./Weeki Wachee) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop.  
 
Cortland answered with 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning, two runs in the second inning and three runs in the third inning to put Plattsburgh State down, 17-1.
 
Plattsburgh State scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning, including a two-run double to left-center field off the bat of sophomore infielder Conner Gonzalski (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse), to make the score 17-4.
 
However, The Cardinals were unable to get any closer and the Red Dragons added a single run in the sixth inning to make the final score 18-4.
 
Bryant paced the Cardinal offense with two hits in four at-bats and one run scored.
 
Third baseman Daniel Coleman led all batters with seven RBI in the game for Cortland. Coleman went 3-for-3 with two doubles and scored two runs.   
 
Junior right-hander Pierce Steinberg (Mahopac, N.Y./The Harvey School) started on the mound for Plattsburgh State and was tagged with the loss. Steinberg (0-1) was charged with six runs on five hits in 1/3 of an inning. He recorded one walk and one strikeout. First-year right-hander Garrett Engstrom (Massena, N.Y./Massena Central), the Cardinals' third pitcher of the game, made his collegiate debut and pitched 7 2/3 innings in relief. Engstrom allowed six runs on 10 hits, while tallying two strikeouts and two walks.  
 
Senior right-hander Zack Durant (5-0) earned the win for Cortland. He allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits over five innings pitched. Durant garnered six strikeouts and one walk.
 
Hits were 18-6 in favor of Cortland.
 
Game 2: SUNY Cortland 3, Plattsburgh State 2 (8 Inn.)
 
Triola had a strong game on the mound and junior catcher Jacob Hutton (Albany, N.Y./Colonie Central) hit his first career home run, but Plattsburgh State suffered a 3-2 setback to SUNY Cortland in eight innings. Game two of the doubleheader was scheduled for seven innings.
 
Plattsburgh State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore left fielder Cody Peryea (Altona, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) walked with one out, advanced to third on a single by Stone and then came around to score when the catcher made a throwing error as Stone stole second base.
 
The Cardinals remained in front, 1-0, until the bottom of the third inning when the Red Dragons tied the game at 1-1 on a two-out RBI single to right field by center fielder Scott Giordano.
 
Plattsburgh State answered back in the fourth inning when, with two outs, Hutton smashed a solo homer – the first of his Cardinal career – to left field to put the Cardinals back in front, 2-1.
 
Triola kept the Cardinals in front, 2-1, until the sixth inning when Cortland scored an unearned run to tie the game at 2-2. With two outs, Triola induced a groundball from catcher James Varian that looked like it was going to be the end of the inning, but a Cardinal error allowed Varian to reach base and left fielder Colin BeVard to score. Triola worked out of further trouble and the score remained tied, 2-2, through the scheduled seven innings as the game went to extra innings.
 
Plattsburgh State threatened in the top of the eighth inning. With the bases loaded and two out, Hutton hit a slow chopper to the left of home plate. The pitcher, Bailey Gauthier, fielded the ball and made the throw to first base to retire Hutton and keep the game tied.
 
Cortland scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to hand Plattsburgh State the 3-2 defeat in eight innings. With Giordano on first base with one out, shortstop Ben Rhodes placed a double into right-center field and Giordano raced around the bases to score the winning run for the Red Dragons.   
 
Right-hander Shane Mugnolo started on the mound for Cortland, but did not factor into the decision. Mugnolo was charged with two runs (one earned) on four hits over 5 2/3 innings. Mugnolo walked two batters and struck out five. Gauthier, who recorded the final two outs of the top of the eighth inning for Cortland, improved to 3-2 on the season. Gauthier walked two batters (one intentional walk) and did not allow a hit.
 
Triola, who held the Red Dragons to three runs (two earned) on 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings, is now 1-2 on the season. Triola recorded four strikeouts and did not walk a batter.
 
Cortland held a 10-4 edge in hits.