CLERMONT, Fla. – The Plattsburgh State softball team split their two games on day three at THE Spring Games, defeating Southern Virginia 10-9 and then falling to Old Westbury 4-2. Graduate student Julia Golino (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) surpassed the 100-hit mark, as she picked up three hits in game one and another in game two.

Golino had four hits on the day to lead the offensive effort while both Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) and Mikayla Manalo (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) had three hits on the day. Noll also drove in four runs and tripled, while walking four total times to reach base on seven different occasions.

The Cardinals move to 2-4 on the season and will have a day off tomorrow before returning to action on Thursday, March 21, when they take on UW-Eau Claire at 1:30 p.m. and Ramapo at 4:15 p.m. Southern Virginia moved to 2-10 after they completed the day, also falling to Washington & Jefferson, as they next take on Worcester State on Wednesday, March 20. Old Westbury improves to 7-1 and will take on Washington & Jefferson at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 21 for their next contest.

Game One: Plattsburgh 10, Southern Virginia 9

The Cardinals used a seven-run fifth inning to come back from a three-run deficit and held on to take down Southern Virginia. Sarah Milyko (Goshen, N.Y./Chester Academy) earned the win on the mound with six innings of work, while Calli Fitzwater (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Plattsburgh) got the save protecting the lead in the seventh.

Noll sparked the offense with a 2-3 effort, scoring three runs, driving in three runs, and also walking twice. Golino had three hits to surpass the century mark for career hits, also driving in a run and scoring twice. Dimitra Mouhteros (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) had two hits and two RBI, while first-year Alyssa Hemingway (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Plattsburgh) notched two hits and scored a run.

The Cards wasted little time getting on the board, scoring twice in the first thanks to RBI groundouts from both Golino and Sara Isaacs (Malta, N.Y./Shenendehowa). The 2-0 lead held until the top of the fourth when the Knights' offense exploded for five runs on four hits. Plattsburgh added a run right back in the bottom half on an error that scored a run but still trailed 5-3 after four innings of play.

After a scoreless top half of the fifth from Milyko, Plattsburgh came through with a huge inning, scoring seven runs on six hits and one error. The Cards loaded the bases with just one out for Michelle DeFina (Commack, N.Y./Commack) who responded with the first RBI of her career with a single to left center, putting Plattsburgh down just one. Noll followed with a huge triple to left, clearing the bases and putting the Cards up 7-5, and then scored later on a passed ball. Mouhteros put the finishing touches on the inning with a two-run single to left, scoring Isaacs and Golino to put the Cards up 10-5.

The Knights did not go quietly, however, scoring twice in the sixth to go down 10-7 entering the top of the final inning. Fitzwater, entering the game for a save opportunity, got two outs quickly and after a two-out, two-run homer, got the final out of the game for the Plattsburgh win.

Ariana Hall took the loss in the circle, going two innings in relief and giving up seven runs, with three being earned. Sophia Badell finished 2-2 on the day and had a two-run homer for the Knights in the loss.

Game Two: Old Westbury 4, Plattsburgh 2

The Cardinals led almost the entire game, but a late Panther rally helped Old Westbury win the game 4-2. Carly Gemmett (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) took the loss for Plattsburgh, going 5.1 innings and giving up four runs without any walks. Milyko relieved Gemmett and tossed 2/3 of an inning retiring both batters she faced.

Manalo was the long Cardinal with a multi-hit game in the second contest of the day, finishing 2-4. Noll reached base three times for Plattsburgh, notching an RBI single and walking twice at the top of the Cardinal order.

The Cards were able to take an early lead in the top of the second over the Panthers, scoring a run on an Old Westbury error and then on Noll's RBI single. From there Gemmett cruised through five innings, allowing just two baserunners in her first five frames of work.

In the sixth, after an opening-inning strikeout, the Panthers put together five straight hits to go up 3-2 with their fourth and final run scoring on a throw down on a steal of second base.

Now trailing in the seventh with the game on the line, Manalo led off the frame with a single to left, allowing the tying run to reach the plate, but three straight outs ended the game as Old Westbury picked the come-from-behind win.

Christina Ravo picked up the win for the Panthers with two scoreless innings of relief, while Madison Danin had the hit and the game-winning RBI in the victory.