Plattsburgh, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State Softball team earned two wins on Saturday afternoon, defeating New Paltz 2-0 and 9-4 on a cold but sunny day. The team now has opened up SUNYAC conference play undefeated, and will look to continue that trend going into a Sunday twinbill versus Oneonta.

Julia Golino (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt, Sinai) had an excellent start in game one, throwing a complete game shutout to lead her team to the win. The team followed up the game one win with a win in game two, powered by an eight-run fourth inning that led them to the victory.

Game 1: Plattsburgh 2, New Paltz 0

A run in the third and fourth inning was all the support Golino would need in a game one win, as the junior tossed seven innings of shutout ball, striking out six batters while scattering eight hits. She was able to work around the tying-run being on base in the seventh inning, as she induced back-to-back pop outs to end the game.

The Cardinals tacked on their first run of the game in the bottom of the third after Alexa Murray (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) reached on an error and stole second. Kristen Langdon (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) was able to drive her home later in the frame, reaching on a bunt single and picking up an RBI. 

Plattsburgh added an important insurance run in the fourth after Danielle Torres (Albany, NY/Colonie Cnetral) was hit and reached first. Dimitra Mouhteros (Washingtonville,NY/Washingtonville) was called upon to pinch run for the Cards and promptly stole second to put herself in scoring position. Junior infielder Sam Gentile (Highland, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) then doubled Mouhteros home to extend the Plattsburgh lead and give Golino a much need cushion to work with.

The Hawks outhit the Cardinals 8-3, but their two defensive miscues were instrumental in helping the home team to the win. Jessica Graepel doubled for the visiting New Paltz team and Jackie Rometo tripled. 

Game 2: Plattsburgh 9, New Paltz 4

An eight-run fourth was more than enough to allow the Cardinals to take the lead over the Hawks and hold on for the doubleheader sweep in Saturday's twinbill. The inning began with singles from both Dolly Garguillo (Monroe, NY/Washingtonville) and Gentile, with the latter allowing Garguillo to score and bring the deficit to two runs for Plattsburgh. After a passed ball allowed Gentile to take third Kelsey Waite (Winthrop, NY/St. Lawrence Central) grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring a run to cut the New Paltz lead to to 4-3. Now with two outs, the Cardinals bats came on absolute fire, as Kristina Maggiacomo (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) and Murray each singled and Claire Palmer (Suffern, NY/Suffern) walked to load the bases. Langdon then came through with the clutch knock, clearing the bases with a three-run triple to give her team the lead. The inning was not yet over, however, as Golino singled home Langdon, and Garguillo followed that up with a single in her second at bat of the inning. With two runners, on Rebecca Diller (Halfmoon,NY/Shenendehowa) joined the fun, as the junior smoked a ball center to bring in two more Caridnal runs.

After the rally ended and the dust settled, Maggiacomo settled in very nicely, retiring the last 13 batters she faced for the win. She earned her third win of the year with her effort and also struck out a career high 12 batters, the most strikeouts in a game by a Cardinal pitcher since Rhea Pitkin struck out 14 Farmingdale batters back in March of 2017. Maggiacomo also drove in a run in the second inning with a single to right to score Diller.

Langdon, Golino, Garguillo and Maggiacomo each had two hits int he win, with Langdon driving in a team high three runs. Diller had two RBIs for the Cards, as all but two starters registered RBIs for Plattsburgh State.

The team will return to Cardinal Park tomorrow at 12 pm for a SUNYAC doubleheader against Oneonta.