PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After a tough, one-run loss in game one of their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader, the Plattsburgh State softball team won game two 10-2 against Fredonia to earn the split. The team scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and held the Blue Devils scoreless in the top of the frame to earn the run-rule win.

Megan Pillus (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) had four hits between both games and drove in two runs, while Sara Isaacs (Malta, N.Y./Shenendehowa) scored three runs and had three hits. Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) had two hits, two RBIs, a run scored, a stolen base, and a walk to reach base three times between both games. Carly Gemmett (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) matched her career-high 13 strikeouts in game one, allowing just two earned runs, while Morgan Ormerod (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) also allowed just two earned runs, striking out five.

The Cardinals move to 5-10 (2-2 SUNYAC) on the season and will next host Buffalo State, tomorrow, April 12 at noon for a SUNYAC doubleheader. Fredonia moves to 5-11 (3-1 SUNYAC) and heads to Potsdam tomorrow, April 12, for a conference twinbill.

Game One: Fredonia 2, Plattsburgh 1

A two-run homer for the Blue Devils was all they needed in game one, as starter Kendall Phillips was outstanding, winning the pitcher's duel against Gemmett. Phillips finished the day with seven innings pitched, striking out 14, and allowing no earned runs. Gemmett was nearly as good for Plattsburgh, allowing two hits and two earned runs while going all seven innings and striking out 13.

For the Cards, Pillus had the lone multi-hit day, going 2-3 with an RBI, while also stealing a base, and Isaacs scored the team's only run.

For Fredonia, Mia Eickhoff had a two-run homer, scoring Madison Lowe, and Kayla Jo Lynn had the only other hit for the Blue Devils.

Eickhoff opened the scoring in the top of the second, as Lowe was hit to lead off the inning and after a strike out, the junior struck with a one-out homer to left.

Starting in the bottom of the second, neither team had a baserunner until Bella Toleman (Stillwater, N.Y./Stillwater) singled with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Pillus followed with a single, and Meghan Stork (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) walked to load the bases, but the trio was stranded to keep the Blue Devils ahead 2-0.

The quick innings continued on both sides as the pitchers cruised into the bottom of the sixth, where Plattsburgh finally got on the board. Isaacs singled to left center with one-out and advanced to second on an error by the centerfielder, putting herself in scoring position. After a strikeout, Pillus came through with a single through the right side, scoring Isaacs and Plattsburgh within a run. A strikeout ended the frame, and after a quick top of the seventh for Gemmett, Phillips struck out the side in her half of the seventh, giving the Blue Devils the game one win.

Game Two: Plattsburgh 10, Fredonia 2

After Fredonia tied the game at two in the top of the fourth, the Cardinal offense exploded for eight-runs in the bottom half of the inning, run-ruling the visiting Blue Devils.

Noll led five Cardinals who posted multi-hit games as she finished 2-3 with two RBI, a double, a run scored, and a stolen base. Isaacs was 2-3 as well, with two runs scored, and Pillus had her second multi-hit outing of the day, driving in one run. Toleman and Emma Deo (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park) were each 2-3 with an RBI to round out the Cards with multi-hit efforts. In the circle, Ormerod went all five innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking two.

Megan Guidry led the Fredonia offense with a 2-2 effort, blasting a solo homer to left in the third. Eickhoff added another RBI to her tally with a single in the fourth for the Blue Devils. Lowe took the loss in the circle for Fredonia, allowing 10 hits, nine total runs, with four being earned, also walking two and striking out none in 3.2 innings of work.

The Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first with a two-out rally as Isaacs, Pillus, and finally Toleman singled in succession. Isaacs came around to score on Toleman's single to give the Cards an early advantage. The Cards added to that lead in the following half-inning as Noll singled home a run to give the team a 2-0 lead.

Guidry homered in the top of the following inning to put her team down 2-1, and in the Blue Devils' next half-inning, Eickhoff tied the game at two after Avery Hill doubled to lead off the frame.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Cards used five hits and three errors to score eight runs and take a decisive 10-2 lead. Noll gave Plattsburgh the lead for good with a one-out RBI double, and an error allowed a run to score in the next at-bat to give the Cards a 4-2 lead. Noll then proceeded to steal home, and after an infield hit from Isaacs, Pillus singled through the left side to bring home another Plattsburgh run. After a foulout, Stork and Deo had back-to-back RBI singles, and the Cards scored their final run of the inning when a runner was caught in a rundown on a steal attempt, allowing the tenth run of the game for the Cards to score.

In the top of the fifth, Ormerod worked around a leadoff single to retire the next three batters, ending the game and giving the Cards the SUNYAC win.