PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team continued its Florida trip at The Spring Games on Thursday, looking to bounce back into the win column following yesterday's doubleheader sweep. The Cardinals opened the day against a familiar opponent in SUNY Brockport before closing with a matchup against Hartwick in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Plattsburgh kicked off the day in a tightly contested pitcher's duel against Brockport, a team the Cardinals have now faced 58 times in program history. Both sides were held scoreless through six innings as each pitching staff controlled the game and limited scoring opportunities.
Brockport ultimately broke through in the top of the seventh inning, pushing across the game's lone run to take a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals were unable to respond in the bottom half, as Brockport held on to secure the narrow victory.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals received a standout performance in the circle from Morgan Ormerod (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane), who delivered one of her strongest outings of the season. The senior tossed 6.2 innings, allowing no earned runs while striking out 10 batters and keeping the Golden Knights off balance throughout the contest.
The Cardinals responded in game two, earning a dramatic, back-and-forth victory over Hartwick to secure the program's first-ever win over the Hawks.
Hartwick struck first in the bottom of the third inning, capitalizing on an early opportunity to take a 3-0 lead. The Hawks used back-to-back RBI singles from Alicea Seitzinger and Samantha Moore to bring across three runs in the frame before Plattsburgh responded in the top half.
The Cardinals got on the board in the third when Jaylyn Linderman (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) delivered an RBI single to left field, scoring Michelle DeFina (Commack, N.Y./Commack) to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Hartwick extended its lead in the fourth, adding two unearned runs before Seitzinger delivered another RBI single to push the Hawks ahead 6-1.
Plattsburgh answered immediately in the bottom of the fourth, beginning a steady offensive climb back into the game. Leila Toomey (Commack, N.Y./Commack) drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, followed by Linderman's second RBI single of the game to trim the margin to 6-3.
The Cardinals continued to chip away in the fifth as Bella DeLorenzo (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac) executed a sacrifice fly to bring home Sara Isaacs (Malta, N.Y./Shenendehowa), pulling Plattsburgh within 6-4.
Hartwick briefly regained a three-run cushion in the sixth on an RBI single from Madi Hoerman to make it 7-4.
Plattsburgh responded with one of its biggest innings of the game in the bottom half. Isaacs delivered a clutch two-run single to center, scoring Linderman and Toomey. The Cardinals continued to rally when Meghan Stork (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) came around to score on an error, tying the game at 7-7 after six innings.
The back-and-forth battle continued into the late innings, with Hartwick regaining the lead in the eighth on a triple by Mihaly Blake that scored Shelby Swartz, putting the Hawks ahead 8-7.
Refusing to go down, Plattsburgh answered once again in the bottom of the eighth. Isaacs delivered her second RBI single of the game to tie the game at 8-8. Moments later, DeLorenzo drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly, scoring Gwen Noll (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) to complete the comeback and secure a 9-8 victory for the Cardinals.
With the split, the Cardinals move to 4-5 on the season and will be back in action as they wrap up The Spring Games tomorrow. Plattsburgh will take on Plymouth State at 9 a.m., followed by Keene State at 11:15 a.m.
