MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.- Andrew Veit (Yaphank, N.Y./Bellport) threw nearly eight stellar innings for Plattsburgh, as the Plattsburgh State baseball team defeated Worcester State 8-2 in Myrtle Beach. Veit went 7.2 innings, striking out eight and scattering 11 hits as he gave up just two runs and walked just one. 

The Cards lineup took advantage of five Worcester State errors, as six of their eight runs scored were unearned. Mike Rasquin (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) and Conner Gonzalski (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) each had multi-hit days with two singles each, as Rasquin walked and scored a run and Gonzalski had an RBi and a run scored. Kyle Cremin (Yorktown, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) and Nick Cergol (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) each reached base twice and drove in a run for the Cards. Logan Avin (Honolulu, Hawaii/Waterford(Conn.)) worked 1.1 innings of scoreless ball to earn his first career save in the team's win.

Plattsburgh moves to 4-6 with the victory and is scheduled to play New England College tomorrow at 9 a.m. for their final game in Myrtle Beach. Worcester State moves to 4-5 with the loss and plays defending national champions Eastern Connecticut State in their next two games on March 17 and March 18. 

The game began as a pitcher's duel as Jarret Morrill matched Veit inning for inning through the first six frames as both teams threatened, but failed to score, leaving the game scoreless heading into the top of the seventh. The Cards stranded six runners through the first six innings while the Lancers stranded nine, as both teams had several chances to get on the board but struggled to come up with a big hit. Morrill ended up being charged with the tough-luck loss, as he was tagged for three unearned runs. 

The Cardinals finally struck in the seventh as Matt Blair (Elma, N.Y./Iroquois) opened the inning by reaching on an error and advancing to second on the errant throw. Adam Wein (North Rockland, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) singled up the middle in the next at-bat as Blair was attempting to steal, allowing the run to easily score and give the Cards a 1-0 lead. Another error put two runners on for Plattsburgh, chasing the Worcester starter from the game. In the first at-bat against the new arm, Rasquin laid down a sacrifice bunt, but an errant throw from the pitcher allowed him to reach and load the bases. Alex Kornblau (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) was then hit in the next Cardinal plate appearance and Cremin followed with a sacrifice fly, bringing home two runs and stretching the lead to 3-0 for Plattsburgh State in the seventh. 

After scoreless half innings in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eighth, Veit retired the first two batters of the bottom of the inning but back-to-back singles chased him from the game, as Avin entered the game in relief. The first batter against the new Cardinal arm doubled to right field to score two runs, but Avin escaped the jam by striking out the next batter, stranding the tying run on second base. 

In the ninth, the Cardinals secured more than enough insurance by scoring five runs on just three hits, taking advantage of two significant errors. Two walks to start the frame allowed Gonzalski and then Cergol to each drive in a run to put Plattsburgh back up by three runs. After an Ott single loaded the bases, Blair grounded to first base and was put out by the first baseman who tagged the bag, but a wild throw that would have surely ended the inning sailed over the catcher's head, allowing a run to score. On the next play, the shortstop fielded and errantly threw away a ball that allowed two more runs to score, giving Plattsburgh an 8-2 lead in the ninth.

Avin retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, earning the save after entering with the tying run at the plate in the eighth inning, and giving Plattsburgh the win.