PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team opened State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play on a rainy afternoon Wednesday, falling twice to Potsdam, 8-5 and 6-5. The Cards nearly erased an eight-run deficit in game one, before falling just short in extra innings in game two.

Claire Palmer (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) surpassed the 100^th career hit with a four-hit effort in game two, eclipsing the mark as a junior. Mikayla Manalo (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) drove in five runs and had four hits on the day, while Julia Golino (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) and Sara Isaacs (Malta, N.Y./Shenendehowa) each had three hits between the two games.

The Cardinals fall to 5-11 (0-2 SUNYAC) and next play at Fredonia on Saturday, April 13 beginning at noon. Potsdam improves to 8-6 (2-0 SUNYAC) and heads to Buffalo State on Saturday, April 14 where they will play the Bengals at noon.

Game One: Potsdam 8, Plattsburgh 5

Trailing 8-0 through four and a half innings, the Cardinals scored five runs in the fifth and sixth as they fought back into the game late. Manalo led the charge with two hits and three RBI while Golino and Isaacs each had multi-hit games, with Golino driving in a run.

Golino was charged with the loss giving up five earned runs and striking out four. Sarah Milyko (Goshen, N.Y./Chester Academy) came on in relief tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless softball and allowing zero hits. Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) had an RBI triple as well for Plattsburgh in the loss.

Potsdam looked as if they might cruise to the game one win, scoring at least one run in the first five innings as they held an 8-0 lead through their first five innings at bat. A couple of errors got them off to a good start with a 2-0 lead in the first and they continued to tack on through the fifth inning before the Cards went to Milyko out of the pen.

The Cards finally got on board in the fifth, with the run rule just an out away from taking effect, with Manalo singling home a run to put the Cards down seven runs. Noll followed with her RBI triple to score Manalo and then Golino doubled to right center to score another Cardinal run. After an Isaacs single and HBP, the Cards had the bases loaded, but the Bears got a huge strikeout to end the threat.

After a scoreless top of the sixth from Milyko, a leadoff walk and HBP set up Manalo who doubled down the left field line, scoring both runners and putting the tying run on deck for the second straight inning. Once again, the Bear's pitching came up big, ending the threat and forcing a strikeout and groundout.

Another quick inning from Milyko set up a potential comeback in the bottom of the frame, but after a leadoff single, two fielder's choices and a flyout ended the Cardinals' chance, giving the Bears the win.

Lexie Cottrill picked up the win for Potsdam with five innings of work, giving up just four runs on seven hits. Anna Grottola had two runs and two hits, while Kaylee LaForest drove in two runs for the Bears.

Game Two: Potsdam 6, Plattsburgh 5 (8 innings)

After leading the entire game, the Bears came storming back to tie the game in the seventh and take the lead in the eighth to win game two and pick up the SUNYAC sweep over Plattsburgh. Even after giving away the lead, the Cardinals were able to put the game-winning run in scoring position in the eighth but were unable to get the walkoff hit.

Palmer matched the program single-game record with four hits, the third time she has done so in her career, as she joined Golino in the 100-hit club with her bunt single in the bottom of the fourth. She finished the day 4-5 with two runs and an RBI while Emma Deo (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park) had two hits and a run scored. Manalo drove in two runs in game two while reaching base twice. Morgan Ormerod (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) was solid with seven innings of work, scattering seven hits and striking out seven while allowing five runs. Noll and Golino also drove in runs for Plattsburgh in the loss, while Michelle DeFina (Commack, N.Y./Commack) walked twice for the second time of the day, scoring a run.

The Cards jumped out to an early lead in game one, as Golino smoked a double to left-center to score Palmer and give Plattsburgh the 1-0 lead through an inning of play. In the second, the Cardinals tacked on two more runs as Palmer singled with the bases loaded to bring home a run, and Manalo walked to bring home a run and give the Cards a 3-0 lead.

A Sophia Pleat single in the third put Potsdam within a run, two Bears to make it 3-2, but Ormerod prohibited any further damage and cruised until the seventh inning. On the other side, Anna Brown entered in relief in the fourth and was steller for Potsdam, keeping the Cardinals off the board and her Bears just one swing away from tying the game.

In the seventh, with Plattsburgh leading 3-2, a leadoff double from Kelsey Bennett put the tying run in scoring position to begin the inning. LaForest followed with a perfectly placed bunt, that found its way between both the shortstop and pitcher, as Bennett never stopped running and scored from second on the bunt to tie the game. Ormerod was able to work out of trouble, stranding the go-ahead run on base to end the threat. The Cardinals responded by going down in order, setting up extra innings at Cardinal Park.

In the eight, a Kiara Lovejoy leadoff single was followed by a Kaylee Dobransky triple, that gave Potsdam their first lead of the game. After a walk and stolen base followed, back-to-back RBI groundouts put Potsdam up 6-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.

Despite trailing by three runs, the Cards had not quit, as Deo began the frame with a leadoff single. After back-to-back fielder's choices put Plattsburgh an out away from falling in game two, Palmer extended the inning with an infield single, and Manalo singled to score a run and put the tying run on base for Plattsburgh. Noll followed and singled with a hard line drive to right field, scoring Palmer, as both Manalo and Noll advanced a base with the throw to home, putting the tying run just 60 feet away and the game-winning run in scoring position. However, Brown made an excellent pitch to force a Plattsburgh flyout and give Potsdam the big sweep over their North Country rival.

Dobransky was 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while LaForest had two hits and an RBI as well for Potsdam.