CLERMONT, Fla. – Head coach Jessica Miller earned her first career win as head coach of the Plattsburgh State softball team on Sunday, as the Cardinals defeated the Keene State Owls 3-2. Junior Megan Pillus (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./ Spackenkill) drove in the go-ahead run in the third inning and senior Carly Gemmett (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) picked up her first win as a Cardinal with 13 strikeouts over seven strong innings.

Gemmett tossed her third career complete game for the Cards, allowing just two runs as she struck out 13. She scattered six walks and allowed just two hits as she led the Cardinals to the win. First-year Bella Toleman (Stillwater, N.Y./Stillwater) finished the day 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Pillus and sophomore Michelle DeFina (Commack, N.Y./Commack) each had a base-hit and RBI. First-year Meghan Stork (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) scored a run and had her first career hit for the Cards, while first-year Mikayla Pappas (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) also had her first career hit.

Plattsburgh State moves to 1-0 and next plays Simpson College on Monday, March 17, at 2 p.m., as the second game of Sunday, March 16, against Worcester State was canceled due to inclement weather. Keene State falls to 0-1 and next faces Salem State on Monday, March 17, at 2 p.m.

After 1-2-3 innings on each side in the first, the Owls used three walks to get their first two runs of the game, as a two-run, two-out single put Keene State ahead in the second inning. Plattsburgh State was able to respond right away, as Toleman led the inning off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and then came around to score on a two-out single.

Gemmett settled in during the third inning, sitting down all three batters to quickly get her team back to the plate. Stork led off the home-half of the third with a single to center and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. Toleman singled to left to score her fellow first-year, and advanced to second on the throw home, tying the game at two runs apiece. After a groundout advanced her to third, Pillus doubled to right-center to give the Cards the lead.

From there, Gemmett stifled the Owls' bats, allowing just a handful of batters to reach the rest of the way. She struck out the side in the fourth inning, stranding the tying run on third, and struck out two in the fifth in a 1-2-3 frame. After a 1-2-3 sixth, a leadoff bunt single was erased in the seventh as she was caught stealing by Emma Deo (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park). A fly-out followed by a walk put the tying run on base with two outs, but Gemmett struck out the final batter looking to end the game and give the Cards the win.

Elyse Picard drove in two runs for Keene State while Lilah Demmy took the loss in the circle with four innings of work.