PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State softball team suffered two State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) setbacks on Friday, falling to Buffalo State 8-7 and 10-8. The Bengal bats proved to be a tough task for the Cardinal pitching staff, as they finished the day with 27 hits and 18 runs. 

Kylie Persampire (Bellmore, N.Y./Wellington C. Mepham) and Kristina Maggiacomo (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) each finished the day with three hits, while Persampire had three RBI, and Maggiacomo recorded two RBI. Claire Palmer (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) also added three hits on the day, while Danielle Torres (Albany, N.Y./Colonie) registered a two-run double. 

Plattsburgh falls to 16-6 (5-3 SUNYAC) with the loss and will look to a doubleheader with Fredonia tomorrow, April 22, at noon. After the games, the team will honor their six seniors on senior day: Rebecca Diller (Halfmoon, N.Y./Shenendehowa), Julia Golino (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai), Kristen Langdon (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), Maggiacomo, Torres, and Kelsy Waite (Winthrop, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central). Buffalo State moves to 18-8 (7-1 SUNYAC) with the wins and will travel to Potsdam tomorrow for a doubleheader with the Bears at noon.

Game One: Buffalo State 8, Plattsburgh 7

The Cardinals nearly overcame a six-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth but ended up falling in game one of the day, 8-7. Plattsburgh had seven hits, with seven individuals each recording a base knock, as Persampire had one of the biggest with a two-run single. Mikayla Manalo (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East), Waite, and Michelle Gonzales (Grass Valley, Calif./Nevada Union) each drove in a run for the Cards, with Gonzales recording a double. Maggiacomo took the loss in the complete-game effort, surrendering eight runs to the Bengal offense.

Buffalo State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first, setting the tone for themselves offensively early. The Cardinals cut the deficit to one in the second inning, scoring a run off a passed ball and a Waite RBI groundout. However, Buffalo State had a response, as the Bengals responded with four runs in the fourth with three run-scoring singles, highlighted by a Kayla Wolinksi two-run single to right, to put them up 7-2. This would be a common theme throughout the day, as any Cardinal rally was met with a prompt response from the Bengal bats. 

The team extended their lead to 8-2 in the sixth, as Wolinski doubled home a run for her third RBI of the day. Plattsburgh, however, would not go down without a fight. In the bottom of the sixth, the team put up five runs on four hits and two errors to pull within just one run. Gonzales started the scoring party with an RBI double down the right field line, as Persampire followed with a hard-hit single up the middle to score two. Later, a single and subsequent error loaded the base with a wild pitch then scoring another run for Plattsburgh. Manalo followed with a single through the left side, scoring a run and putting the Cards down just 8-7. Kaitlyn Schnitzer was called upon to relieve the Bengal starter and promptly recorded two outs to leave the tying run stranded at third base. 

After a scoreless top of the seventh for the Buffalo State offense, the Cardinals went down in order in the seventh, handing Schnitzer the save and giving the Bengals the win.

Madison Lucas earned the win in the circle, her 11th of the year, going 5.1 innings and giving up three earned runs. Wolinski finished the day 3-4 with four RBI, while Caitlyn Parsons was 2-4 with two RBI. 

Game Two: Buffalo State 10, Plattsburgh 8

In another offensive battle, the Cardinals bats couldn't match the Bengal's offensive output, as they took the doubleheader sweep with a 10-8 win. Maggiacomo was 3-4 in game two, finishing with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored and Palmer put together a 2-5 effort with two runs scored. Persampire continued to be a productive bat in the second game of the twin bill, registering two hits, two runs, and an RBI. Morgan Ormerod (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) took the loss in relief for Plattsburgh, as the first-year went four innings and allowed three earned runs while striking out three batters. 

Once again, Buffalo State jumped out to an early lead, as Parsons doubled home a run in the first. Plattsburgh, however, responded with three first-inning runs of their own, scoring two runs on an error and then a run on a Persampire single to center. In the following half inning, the Bengals once again responded, putting up two runs to tie the game at three runs apiece. 

In the top of the third, Buffalo State regained the lead with an RBI single to make the score 4-3. The Cardinals then rallied for two runs in the bottom of the frame, as Torres lined a double in the gap to score two runs. However, as they did all day, the Bengals responded, putting together a three-run fourth, as a two-run triple and sacrifice fly plated three runs to gain a 7-5 advantage.

Maggiacomo chipped into the Buffalo State lead in the bottom of the fourth, doubling home Manalo with an RBI base hit in the left field gap. In her next at-bat in the sixth, Maggiacomo blooped a two-out base hit into shallow left to score Palmer to tie the game, as she then hustled into second for a double, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. She was stranded there, but the pressure was back on Buffalo State. Once more, however, the Bengals came through offensively, scoring three runs in the top of the frame to go up 10-7 heading into the final half-inning of the day. 

Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) drove in a run with a fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh, but the Cardinals were unable to get the tying run on base in the inning, as Schnitzer retired the final batter of the game with a game-ending groundout. 

Schnitzer earned the win with a complete game effort giving up four earned runs and striking out three. Parsons had three doubles in the game while Jenna Wlostowksi had two hits, a double, and an RBI.