Geneseo, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State Softball team (14-19, 9-9) fell to SUNY New Paltz (27-16, 12-6) on Friday afternoon, ending their SUNYAC tournament run. The team won their first SUNYAC game since defeating Buffalo State back in 2018 in an elimination game.
The Cardinals finished the season with their best record overall and in conference since the 2018 team that went 19-19 overall and 10-8 in conference. The roster will graduate three seniors in
Alex McKearin (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane),
Alexa Murray (Port Jefferson, NY/Comsewogue), and
Gabrielle Rodriguez (Albany, NY/Albany) and will return a large chunk of their roster from the 2022 season in 2023.
Plattsburgh was the first team to score in the SUNYAC tournament elimination game, scoring a run in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. McKearin reached on a one-out single up the middle and was moved to second on a sac bunt from
Claire Palmer (Suffern, NY/Suffern). The leadoff hitter Murray followed with a single up the middle as well, scoring McKearin from second and giving the Cards the lead.
New Paltz responded immediately with a run in the third and then took the lead with two runs in the fourth inning with two RBI singles. The Hawks eventually pulled away with a four-run sixth, putting the game out of reach for Plattsburgh.
Offensively, the Cardinals could only manage one baserunner from the fifth inning on, as Murray reached on an error in the sixth.
Rebecca Diller (Halfmoon, NY, Shenendehowa) also had a single for Plattsburgh State.
Julia Golino (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) was the pitcher of record for Plattsburgh, taking the loss after 3.2 innings of work.
Kristina Maggiacomo (South Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) logged 2.1 innings in the loss in relief for Plattsburgh State.
Jillian Shelbourne was 3-4 with three RBIs for New Paltz and Jillian Harrison threw all seven innings for New Paltz to earn the win.