CANTON, N.Y. – A six-run eighth inning powered the Plattsburgh State baseball team to a win over non-conference foe St. Lawrence on Wednesday, 9-6. After the Cards took the lead, first-year reliever Liam Suozzo (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) pitched the final two innings and did not allow a run to nail down his first career save.

TJ Beninati (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) led the offensive effort for the Cards, going 3-5 with 3 RBI, a double, and a run scored, while Michael Piccirillo (Glen Cove, N.Y./Glen Cove) was also 3-5, scoring two runs and doubling. Alex Kornblau (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) drove in two runs and broke the HBP record held by Conner Gonzalski, while Jonathan Beale (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) and Josh Foglia (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) each had two hits and an RBI. Suozzo went two strong innings to earn the save, allowing three hits and no runs while striking out two, and Nick Goldberg (Commack, N.Y./Commack) earned the win tossing 1.1 innings.

Daniel Verrastro had two hits and two RBI for the Saints, and Nolan Widrick was 2-2 with a run scored and a walk. Mike Siano did not register an at-bat but had two RBI, with two walks, and a sacrifice fly.

Plattsburgh State improves to 9-17 and next plays Cortland on Friday, April 25 at 11 a.m. in doubleheader conference action. St. Lawrence falls to 11-19 and next hosts Clarkson on Friday, April 25 in Liberty League action.

The Saints opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, thanks to back-to-back walks from Owen McClintock and Siano. In the fourth, they added onto their lead as Siano drove in another run on a sacrifice fly.

Plattsburgh State finally scored in the top of the fifth as Adam Wein (North Rockland, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) singled home Piccirillo. In the following half-inning, the St. Lawrence added two runs to extend their lead to 5-1.

In the sixth, Plattsburgh got back within two runs as Kornblau brought in a run on an RBI HBP and Beninati singled home a run to put the Cards down 5-3.

After Verrastro brought in a run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, the Cardinal offense went to work down 6-3 in the eighth.

A walk to Kornblau and a single from Piccirillo started the frame, and after a wild pitch, Beninati doubled to right center to score them both and put the Cards down 6-5. After a strikeout and walk, Foglia singled to left, scoring Beninati and tying the game at six. A single from Cremin loaded the bases, and the next batter, Colin Ross (Mastic Beach, N.Y./William Floyd), walked to give Plattsburgh State the lead. A single from Beale followed to extend the lead to 8-6, and Kornblau brought in a run with a sac fly to put the team up 9-6.

Suozzo entered in the bottom of the eighth and worked around a leadoff single to retire the side. After a scoreless ninth from Plattsburgh, Suozzo quickly got two outs in the ninth and, after allowing two hits, forced a game-ending groundout to earn the save.