NEW PALTZ, N.Y. — The Plattsburgh State baseball team split a SUNYAC road doubleheader with New Paltz on Saturday, taking game one, 11-4, before falling 15-6 in the nightcap.
The Cardinals used timely hitting and a big inning to secure the opener. After New Paltz grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first, Plattsburgh answered in the third as senior Colin Ross (Mastic Beach, N.Y./William Floyd) tied the game with an RBI double and senior Ryan Hart (Portland, Ore./Jesuit) followed with an RBI single to give the Cardinals a 2-1 edge. The Hawks evened the score later in the inning, but Plattsburgh seized control in the fifth.
Junior Austin Caldwell (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) delivered the biggest swing of the game, launching a grand slam to put the Cardinals in front 6-2. Plattsburgh continued to add on in the seventh, taking advantage of defensive miscues to plate three unearned runs. First-year David Wallace (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) reached on an error to bring home a run, while senior Bostyn Duquette (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Plattsburgh) and junior Michael Piccirillo (Glen Cove, N.Y./Glen Cove) each crossed the plate during the frame.
New Paltz scored twice in the bottom half of the inning, but Plattsburgh put the game away in the ninth on a two-run single by junior Jonathan Beale (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) to seal the 11-4 win.
In game two, Plattsburgh came out swinging, as junior Jackson Pam (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) and Ross opened the contest with back-to-back solo home runs in the first inning to give the Cardinals an early 2-0 lead.
New Paltz responded immediately and took control with a seven-run second inning, highlighted by a two-run double and aggressive baserunning that included a steal of home. The Hawks continued to build their lead in the third, extending the advantage to 11-2.
Plattsburgh chipped away with runs in the fourth and sixth innings, including a two-run single from junior Ian Warren (Esopus, N.Y./Highland) and an RBI sacrifice fly from Duquette, but New Paltz maintained control offensively. The Hawks added insurance in the fifth and sixth innings to put the game out of reach.
Piccirillo added an RBI double in the seventh, while junior Frankie Kowal (Shrub Oak, N.Y./Lakeland) scored twice in the contest, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome as New Paltz secured the 15-6 victory to earn the split.
With the split, the Cardinals move to 15-15 overall and 5-12 in SUNYAC play. Plattsburgh will wrap up conference action at home on Monday against Canton.
