CLERMONT, Fla. – The Plattsburgh State softball team played two closely contested games on Monday at THE Spring Games in Clermont, Florida, falling to No. 22 Millikin 3-0 and then to Hamilton 5-4 in nine innings. Sara Isaacs (Malta, N.Y./Shenendehowa) had three hits in game two, leading the Cardinal offensive effort on the day.

Isaacs also added two RBI in the game-two loss, while Julia Golino (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) and Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) each had multi-hit games on the day. Golino tossed all nine innings in the loss to Hamilton, allowing just one earned run, while Carly Gemmett (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) tossed all six innings for Plattsburgh in her Cardinal debut.

The Cards move to 1-3 on the year and get just over 12 hours of rest before they are back at it tomorrow, March 19, at 9:15 a.m. to take on Southern Virginia. The No. 22 Millikin Big Blue improved to 8-6 and next take on Ramapo on Wednesday, March 20. Hamilton improves to 6-6 and returns home this week, as they open up conference play on Friday, March 22, on the road against Wesleyan.

Game One: Millikin 3, Plattsburgh 0

The first game of the day was a preview of things to come for the day, as pitchers stymied offenses on both sides of the Cardinal games. Charly Warlow of the Big Blue was the story in the Millikin win, allowing just four hits over seven innings and striking out two to earn her sixth win of the year. For Plattsburgh, Gemmett did well to stay with the Big Blue arm, going six innings and giving up three runs while striking out three.

Golino was 2-3 for Plattsburgh while Dimitra Mouhteros (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) and Megan Pillus (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) each had hits for the Cards.
The Cards threatened early, putting a runner on third base with just one out after a Golino single. After a line out, a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, but the Cards were unable to score to start the game.

While Millikin could only manage five hits they drew six walks, creating traffic on the basepaths they were able to take advantage of. In the third, they took advantage of the walk, as a suicide squeeze brought home a leadoff walk to give the Big Blue a 1-0 lead.

The lead held the rest of the way, with insurance runs coming for Millikin in the fifth on an RBI groundout and another suicide squeeze after a leadoff triple in the sixth.

Anna Enlow tripled for the Big Blue, while Leah Foreman and Maddy Regan each doubled.

Game Two: Hamilton 5, Plattsburgh 4 (9 innings)

An exciting game in the nightcap nearly fell the Cards' way, but Plattsburgh ended up falling 5-4 to the Hamilton Continentals in nine innings. Isaacs was 3-5 on the day, driving in two runs and doubling to lead the Cardinal offense.

Noll went 2-4 in game two, scoring a run and stealing a base out of the leadoff spot for Plattsburgh. In the circle, Golino took her second loss of the season despite giving up just one earned run over nine innings of work. Golino, Mouhteros, Dolly Garguilo (Monroe, N.Y./Washingtonville), and Mikayla Manalo (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) each notched hits for Plattsburgh with Mouhteros scoring two runs.

The Continentals were the first team to crack the scoreboard, as an RBI single in the first scored an unearned run for the team to begin the game's scoring. Plattsburgh was able to respond in the following half-inning as Isaacs brought home Noll after a leadoff single and stolen base to tie the score at one run apiece.

The Cards took the lead in the second as a costly Hamilton error with two outs allowed Mouhteros to score to give the team a 2-1 lead.

The Plattsburgh lead held until the top of the sixth as Golino was cruising up until that inning. A lead-off single and sacrifice bunt allowed the tying run to get into scoring position and an RBI triple easily brought the runner home to tie the score at two.

In the seventh, the Cards put the tying run on second base with two outs but were unable to bring them home sending the game to extras.

With a runner placed on second due to the international tie-breaking rule, the Continentals were able to score in the top of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom half of the frame.
Plattsburgh once again had a quick response, as Isaacs roped a double down the left field line to score the runner and tie the game. In the next at-bat, Golino singled up the middle but a great throw at home from the centerfielder nabbed Isaacs at home to keep the game tied.

In the ninth, Hamilton got two runs to score with the Cardinals unable to get key outs with baserunners on, allowing the Continentals to enter the bottom of the ninth with a 5-3 lead.

Trailing by two, Plattsburgh got the tying run up to the plate with no outs as Garguilo led off the frame with a bunt single to put runners on the corners. After a strikeout, a straight double steal gave the Cardinals a run, as Mouhteros stole home and Garguilo stole second. With the tying run on second base now, Manalo singled by Garguilo was unable to advance. A single by Noll followed but the runners could only advance one base. With the bases loaded and just one out, the Cards were unable to get the runners across as Emma Tansky picked up two huge outs for the Hamilton win.

Tansky went all nine innings allowing just one earned run while striking out nine batters. Gabby Garrison had three hits for the Continentals, including a triple, while Charlie Quinn had two hits.