NEW YORK, N.Y. — After suffering their first loss of the season to New Jersey City University yesterday, the Plattsburgh State baseball team bounced back in impressive fashion on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against John Jay College in the Cardinals' first matchup with the Bloodhounds since 2016.
In the opener, the Cardinals scored early and often, jumping out to a 4–0 lead in the first inning. Plattsburgh plated four runs on a combination of timely hits, hit‑by‑pitches and a wild pitch to build a cushion. John Jay answered with a rally of its own in the first and third innings, scoring six unanswered runs to take a 6–4 lead heading into the fourth.
Plattsburgh refused to fold, though, and plated three runs in the fourth to reclaim the lead. An RBI single by junior Jonathan Beale (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) and an RBI double from junior Frankie Kowal (Shrub Oak, N.Y./Lakeland) helped fuel the comeback, as the Cardinals claimed the 7–6 victory. First-year Kyle Sperring (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) earned the win on the mound, and sophomore Liam Suozzo (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) notched the save.
The Cardinals followed with a dominant offensive performance in the nightcap. Plattsburgh struck first in the second inning, plating five runs highlighted by a two‑run single from senior Colin Ross (Mastic Beach, N.Y./William Floyd) and a two‑run single from sophomore Marc Cancelliere (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush). The Cardinals kept the pressure on through the middle innings, exploding for eight runs in the third and added four more in the fifth to take a commanding 17–3 lead.
John Jay put up a couple of runs in the third and fourth innings, but Plattsburgh's offense was relentless. First-year David Wallace (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) drove in two runs in the third, and Jonathan Beale added another two‑run knockout blow as the Cardinals cruised to the 17‑3 win. First-year Ryan Loughlin (Sound Beach, N.Y./Rocky Point) got the win on the mound as Plattsburgh completed the sweep.
With the sweep, the Cardinals improve to 7–1 and will be back in action tomorrow for a road doubleheader against Maritime College, with first pitch scheduled for noon.
