READING, PA. – The Plattsburgh State baseball team continued its strong early-season stretch on Thursday as the Cardinals traveled to face Alvernia University in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Plattsburgh struck first in the top of the opening inning, capitalizing on an early opportunity to take a 1-0 lead. With runners in scoring position, Austin Caldwell (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) grounded out to shortstop, driving in Jackson Pam (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) to put the Cardinals ahead.

Alvernia responded in the second inning, tying the game on a solo home run from Bobby Hansen.

The Cardinals regained the lead in the fourth inning as David Wallace (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) delivered an RBI groundout, scoring Frankie Kowal (Shrub Oak, N.Y./Lakeland) to push Plattsburgh back in front, 2-1.

The host squad answered quickly in the bottom half of the fourth, using a two-run frame highlighted by a solo home run from Christopher Babkowski and an RBI single from Tim DeGaetano to take a 3-2 advantage.

Alvernia continued to build momentum in the middle innings, extending its lead in the fifth with a pair of RBI singles and a fielder's choice that pushed the margin to 5-2.

The hosts then broke the game open in the sixth inning, plating five runs on four hits to stretch the lead to 10-2.

Plattsburgh continued to battle late, in the ninth inning when Tyler Martin (New Windsor, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) singled through the right side to bring home Ryan Hart (Portland, Ore./Jesuit), cutting the final margin to 10-3.

With the loss, Plattsburgh falls to 9-2 on the season and will now turn its attention to conference play. The Cardinals will be back in action on Saturday, March 21, as they open SUNYAC competition against SUNY Cortland.