POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team opened up State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play, splitting a doubleheader against Potsdam. After dropping the first game 8-7, the Cardinals bounced back with an 8-3 win in game two. The Cards were unable to recover from a six-run inning in the sixth in game one and used a seven-run inning in the seventh to power them to an 8-3 win in game two.

Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y. / Stillwater) tallied four hits between both games, scoring three runs and driving in two. Michelle DeFina (Commack, N.Y. / Commack) also had four hits on the day, scoring once while Megan Pillus (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Spackenkill) drove in three runs and Emma Deo (Averill Park, N.Y. / Averill Park) drove in two runs and scored a run as well.

Plattsburgh State rises to 4-9 (1-1 SUNYAC) and next hosts Skidmore on Tuesday, Apr. 8 at 3 p.m. Potsdam moves to 7-6 (1-1 SUNYAC) and next hosts Clarkson on Monday, Apr. 7 at 3 p.m.

Game One: Potsdam 8, Plattsburgh 7

After a six-run inning in the sixth from Potsdam gave the Bears the lead in the sixth inning, the Cardinals couldn't respond as a game-ending double play secured the 8-7 win for the Bears.

Morgan Ormerod (Valatie, N.Y. / Ichabod Crane) tossed 5.2 innings with two strikeouts and gave up six earned runs. Cadey Wheat (Edwards, N.Y. / Edwards-Knox) came in relief and gave up one earned run, taking the loss. Noll went 2-4, recorded three stolen bases, and scored two runs. Mikayla Manalo (Holtsville, N.Y. / Sachem East) and Bella Toleman (Stillwater, N.Y. / Stillwater) both went 2-4 as well, with Manalo scoring twice and Toleman recording an RBI. Pillus had a double and drove in three runs.

For the Bears, Alexys Rosick went 3-4 with two runs, a double, and an RBI, and Kaylee Dobransky went 2-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Lexie Cottrill went all seven innings for Potsdam, allowing six earned runs and striking out four batters.

The Cardinals struck first in the opening inning as Noll singled to center field and advanced to second on a wild pitch before stealing third.  Manalo then reached base on an error, and a double steal saw Manalo steal second and Noll steal home, putting the Cardinals on the board. After Toleman reached first and Manalo advanced to third on an error by the center fielder, a fielder's choice allowed Manalo to score, giving Plattsburgh an early 2-0 lead.

The Bears responded right away in the bottom half of the inning after a double down the left field line by Rosick, followed by an RBI single to shortstop from Dobransky that scored Rosick. Dobransky advanced to second on the throw home, and a grounder from Danielle Moscarello advanced her to third, and she scored tying the game at two as Moscarello was thrown out at second. 

After three scoreless innings, Plattsburgh put together a five-run frame in the fifth to regain the lead. A bunt single and a steal from Noll, followed by a single up the middle from Manalo, had runners on the corners. Noll then scored on a wild pitch as Manalo moved to second on the play. Following a walk, an RBI single to center field from Toleman brought in Manalo, and a two-RBI double to right field from Pillus added to Plattsburgh's lead and made the score 6-2. Pillus then advanced to third on a passed ball, and a ground ball to second scored Pillus and extended the Cardinals' lead to 7-2.

The Bears threatened to score in the bottom half of the inning after a one-out triple, but Ormerod retired the next two batters, leaving the runner stranded on third.

After a scoreless top half of the six for the Cardinals, the Bears rallied for six runs in the bottom half as they used five hits comprised of four singles and a double, two HPBs, and a walk to take an 8-7 lead going into the final inning. Wheat came in relief to stop the bleeding but gave up three straight hits, leading to four runs. 

In the top of the seventh, back-to-back one-out singles had runners on first and second, but a subsequent double-play secured the 8-7 win for Potsdam.

Game Two: Plattsburgh 8, Potsdam 3

After the Bears scored one run in the first inning, the Cardinals tied the game in the fourth and used a seven-run inning in the seventh to take an 8-1 lead before winning 8-3.

Carly Gemmett (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie Central) recorded a complete game, striking out eight batters in seven innings of work and only allowing three runs for the win on the circle. Deo was 3-4 in game two with two RBIs and a run scored. Noll, Sara Isaacs (Malta, N.Y. / Shenendehowa), and Meghan Stork (Massapequa, N.Y. / Massapequa) all went 2-4 as Noll drove in two runs and Isaacs and Stork both had an RBI.

For the Bears, Sam Horne took the loss in the circle, giving up three earned runs and 11 hits. Rosick went 2-4 with two runs scored, and Dobransky was 1-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Rosick struck first for the Bears after she opened the bottom half of the first with a double to left center and moved to second on a passed ball before scoring on a wild pitch to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead.

Following two scoreless innings, the top of the fourth saw Plattsburgh tie the game at one. After the first two batters were retired, the Cardinals recorded three straight two-out singles from Pillus, Stork, and Deo. Pillus got the inning started with a two-out single down the left field line, followed by a single from Stork to right field that moved Pillus to third. An RBI single to left field from Deo scored Pillus and tied the score at one.

While both teams had a runner on base in the fifth, neither team was able to bring in the baserunner, leaving them stranded.

After Gemmett went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals carried that momentum into the seventh and rallied for seven runs to take an 8-1 lead. DeFina began the inning with a double to left field, followed by a throwing error as Milyko was safe at first, and DeFina advanced to third. A two-RBI double down the left field line from Noll scored DeFina and Milyko as Plattsburgh took a 3-1 lead. Back-to-back singles from Plattsburgh scored Noll, and an error allowed Toleman to reach safely as Manalo scored on the play. A ground out to second from Stork scored Isaacs, and an RBI double to left center from Deo scored Toleman while Deo scored on an error as Plattsburgh tacked on three more runs and took an 8-1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, a flyout and an error on the shortstop put a runner on for the Bears. The next batter fouled out to the pitcher, but the Bears started to rally as a single through the left side from Rosick moved Horne to second, and an RBI single to left center from Dobransky scored Horne and moved Rosick to second. Another single from the Bears added a run, but they still trailed 8-3 with runners on the corners. However, the next batter flew out to center field, ending the game as the Cardinals won 8-3.