WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Trailing by a run heading into the eighth inning, the Plattsburgh State Baseball team rallied for three runs to come back and defeat Wisconsin-Superior 5-3 in the team's opening game at the RussMatt Invitational. Senior Alex Kornblau (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) tied the game with a double and senior Josh Foglia (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) tripled home two runs later in the frame to put the Cardinals ahead for good.

Kornblau and Foglia each finished 2-4 on the day, with Kornblau driving in one run and scoring two runs, while Foglia drove in three. Aidan Diltz (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) also had two hits, finishing 2-3 with a run scored and a walk. Kolby Mordecki (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) pitched very well in his second start of the season, going seven strong allowing just three runs and striking out five in a quality start to earn the win, and Nick Goldberg (Commack, N.Y./Commack) pitched two scoreless frames to close out the game for the Cardinals and earn the save.

For the Yellow Jackets, Payton Steiner was 2-4 with a run scored and a double, while Noah Dagostino had two RBI. Zach Romans pitched seven strong for UW-Superior, allowing just two runs, walking none, and striking out six.

Plattsburgh State moves to 3-0 on the season and next takes on Farmingdale State in doubleheader action tomorrow, Mar. 16 at 2:30 p.m. The Yellow Jackets concluded their Florida trip on Saturday, falling to 5-9 on the year. They next host Northland on Friday, March 21 for conference action.

After a quick top half of the first for Plattsburgh State, UW-Superior got on the board first, after Trey Sybrant singled home Steiner, but another runner was gunned down at the plate to keep the score at just 1-0.

The Cards were able to answer immediately, getting a rally going in the top of the second, as Colin Ross (Mastic Beach, N.Y./William Floyd) was hit by a pitch and Diltz singled through the left side. Foglia then singled to the opposite field, plating Ross and tying the game at one run apiece. After a strikeout and ground out, the Cards had two runners in scoring position with two outs, but Romans induced an inning ending groundout to keep the game tied.

Plattsburgh State took the lead in the top of the third as the Cards got a run with two outs with Kornblau singling, Ross singling, and Kornblau scoring on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the fifth, two singles to start the inning and a sac bunt set up the frame for the Yellow Jackets. Dagostino drove in the runner from third with a sacrifice fly to tie the game, but Mordecki did not allow any more damage, inducing an inning ending groundout.

UW-Superior took a brief lead in their half of the seventh as Dagostino singled home a run with two outs. The Yellow Jackets opted to take out Romans who was cruising and went to Aiden Pfeifer out of the bullpen in the top of the eighth, looking for him to close the game.

Plattsburgh greeted Pfeifer with a one-out double off the bat of Kyle Cremin (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) to the opposite field and Kornblau went to the opposite field in the next at bat, doubling home Cremin to tie the game. The Yellow Jackets then went to Ethan Coady out of the bullpen and got a pop out from Ross to make two outs in the inning. Diltz then walked and Foglia brought him and Kornblau home with a booming triple to right center, giving the Cards the lead.

Goldberg entered in the save situation and Steiner hit a double off the senior righty to start the frame, but Goldberg stood tall, striking out the next batter and the final batter of the inning to get out of the inning unscathed. In the ninth, Goldberg struck out the first batter of the inning, going 1-2-3 to earn the save and give the Cards the win.