NEW PALTZ, N.Y.  – The Plattsburgh State softball team fell in two close games with the defending State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champions, New Paltz Hawks, 1-0 in nine innings and 3-2. The Cardinals led in game two heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Hawks rallied for the conference doubleheader sweep.

Carly Gemmett (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) and Cadey Wheat (Edwards, N.Y./Edwards-Knox) were excellent for Plattsburgh in the circle, as Gemmett went 8.2 innings in game one and Wheat threw 6.2 innings, allowing just three runs. Megan Pillus (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) stayed hot at the plate for Plattsburgh, registering three hits over two games to go 3-6 on the day with a run scored, and Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) reached base safely four times.

The Cardinals fall to 5-16 (2-6 SUNYAC) and next travel to Oneonta on Saturday, Apr. 19 for an 11 a.m. doubleheader against the Red Dragons. New Paltz improves to 13-13 (6-0 SUNYAC) and next travels to Oswego on Monday, April 21 for another SUNYAC doubleheader.

Game One: New Paltz 1, Plattsburgh 0 (9 innings)

A fantastic pitcher's duel in game one went the way of the Hawks as Sydney Waldron and Gemmett battled for nearly nine innings before New Paltz finally scored a run to walk-off game one. Gemmett finished the day with 8.2 innings of work, striking out three batters and scattering eight hits, while walking just one. Waldron went all nine innings and allowed just one hit and three walks while striking out 10.

For the Cardinals, Pillus had the lone Plattsburgh hit, while Noll had two walks and a stolen base.

Mallory Rohon was 3-4 with a run scored and a double for the Hawks, while Leah Gunsett was 2-4 with a double. Sophia D'Arcangelis had the lone RBI to walk it off for New Paltz.
The pitcher's duel was set up for the beginning as neither pitcher had trouble putting up consecutive zeroes.

The Cardinals had their best chance to score in the top of the sixth, as Noll walked with two outs and stole second, and Meghan Stork (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) followed with a walk as well. Waldron, however, was able to force a pop out to end the threat, starting a streak of 10 straight batters retired before the D'Arcangelis walked off in the bottom of the ninth with a two-out infield single.

Game Two: New Paltz 3, Plattsburgh 2

In game two, the two teams engaged in another pitcher's duel, this time between Wheat and Gunsett. Wheat went 6.2 innings, striking out two while allowing just three runs, while Gunsett went seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven batters.

Pillus was 2-3 in game two with a run scored while Noll was 2-4 for the Cards. Stork drove in a run for the Cards while Bella Toleman (Stillwater, N.Y./Stillwater) also had an RBI with a run-scoring double.

Jackie Rometo and Kelsey O'Brien each went 2-4 with an RBI, while Gunesett was 2-3 at the plate for the Hawks. Alyssa Zangrilli was 1-2 with the walk-off single.

After three scoreless innings began the game, Plattsburgh State took their first lead of the day in the top of the fourth as Pillus singled to center field and then scored on Toleman's opposite field double.

In the fifth, Plattsburgh added another run as Michelle DeFina (Commack, N.Y./Commack) led off the inning with a walk and was sacrificed to second base by Leila Toomey (Commack, N.Y./Commack). Noll and Stork each followed with infield hits, as Stork's single to second brought in DeFina to give the Cards a 2-0 lead.

Wheat made that lead stand all the way through six innings, but in the seventh, the Hawks rallied with five straight singles, all with two outs, to walk off the Cards and earn the sweep.