CLERMONT, Fla. – The Plattsburgh State softball team continued its Florida trip at The Spring Games on Tuesday, competing in a doubleheader against UW–Stevens Point before facing William Paterson University later in the day.
The Cardinals entered the day having faced UW–Stevens Point just once in program history and William Paterson seven times previously, with all prior matchups against the Pioneers taking place in Florida.
In game one, UW–Stevens Point jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning, using an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 advantage. Plattsburgh threatened immediately in the bottom half, drawing three walks to load the bases, but was unable to push a run across as the Pointers escaped the jam.
After a pair of scoreless innings, UW–Stevens Point broke the game open in the fourth. A run scored on aggressive baserunning before a two-run triple extended the lead to 5-0. The Pointers added an insurance run in the sixth on an RBI single to make it 6-0, which would hold as the final.
Plattsburgh got off to a strong start in the nightcap, plating a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI base hit from first-year Natalie Rogers (Minisink, NY/Minisink Valley) to take an early 1-0 lead.
The advantage was short-lived, however, as William Paterson responded with a six-run bottom of the first inning to seize control of the game. The Pioneers continued to build on their lead with single runs in both the second and third innings, stretching the margin to 8-1.
The Cardinals began to chip away late, breaking through with a three-run sixth inning behind a pair of RBI singles from first-year Bella DeLoroenzo (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac) and senior Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) to cut the deficit to 8-4. Plattsburgh was unable to generate further offense in the seventh, as William Paterson closed out the contest.
With the two losses, the Cardinals fall to 3-4 on the season. Plattsburgh will have a day off on Wednesday before returning to action on Thursday, taking on Brockport at 11 a.m., followed by Hartwick, with first pitch scheduled for 1:15 p.m.