SUNY Plattsburgh, Clarkson Drop Playoff Tilts; Season Ends

SUNY Potsdam catcher Kelsey Bennett (from Hammond) puts down the tag to nail a Clarkson runner at the plate.  However, Clarkson pitcher Devin Fitzpatrick twirled a three-hitter in the Knights' 6-0 win in the opener.  Clarkson held on to beat the Bears 3-2 in the nightcap.  (Bob LaRue photo)

Clarkson pitcher Devin Fitzpatrick twirled a three-hitter in the Knights' 6-0 win in the opener of a doubleheader at SUNY Potsdam.  Clarkson held on to beat the Bears 3-2 in the nightcap.  (Kyton Deon photo)

.  

St. Lawrence University’s Madison Austin drives the ball into right field to earn a base hit and score the runner from third base to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Saints swept the SUNY Canton Kangaroos in the doubleheader winning 9-1 in Game 1 and 16-0 in Game 2. (Jenne photo) Game Gallery 

St. Lawrence University's Deanna Sullivan (13) drives the ball deep into right field to earn a double placing her in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Saints scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead. The Saints fended off the SUNY Potsdam comeback attempt in the seventh inning to capture the 5-4 victory. (Cody Jenne photo) Game Gallery soon

A St. Lawrence University base runner slides onto third base however she is tagged out by the Skidmore third baseman to end the third inning. The Saints picked up the 6-1 victory over the Mustangs in the first game of todays double header. (Sam Wangerin photo) Game Gallery

April 13: A pair of late-inning rallies helped Plattsburgh State to two one-run wins in a sweep of the St. Lawrence softball team in a nonconference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals won the first game 4-3 and the second 3-2 to improve to 13-9 overall, while the Saints drop to 8-11 after the sweep. Jordan Sheridan led the Saints with a pair of hits in game one, while first-year Mylea Mann had two RBI in game two. Both Emma Gailey and Allie Courtwright took losses on the mound, as Gailey allowed four runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in the opener, and Courtwright gave up three runs on five hits with three strikeouts of her own in the second game. The Saints had 2-0 lead in game one after one-run innings in both the first and the third, as Kylee Knight scored the first run of the day when Plattsburgh dropped a routine pop fly into short right field off the bat of Kelsey Murphy. Junior Carly Dziekan made it 2-0 when she scored on a RBI single up the middle by Courtwright. Plattsburgh chipped away in the top of the fourth with an RBI single of its own and then added three runs in the top of the sixth thanks to two hits and two errors to take a 4-2 lead. St. Lawrence got one back in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly by first-year Abrianna Schlickenmayer that plated Elle Gray, but couldn't find the equalizer as they stranded one in the bottom of the seventh to end the game. The Saints got opened up a 2-0 lead in game two as well, with a two RBI double to right center by Mann in the third that scored both Sheridan and Kelsey Murphy. Plattsburgh cut the home team's lead in half with a run in the top of the fifth off a muffed throw by the Saints first baseman, but the Saints were able to get two quick outs and strand a pair of Cardinals to prevent any further damage. But the visitor's led off the seventh with a triple to the base of the wall in right field and tied the game on a sac fly to center the next at bat. After a single and a fielder's choice, the Cardinals took the lead for good with an RBI single through the right side for the eventual 3-2 margin. St. Lawrence will travel to Clarkson for a Liberty League doubleheader on Thursday, before hosting RPI and Union for a pair of conference doubleheaders this Saturday and Sunday. 

April 10: St. Lawrence and Skidmore traded one-run victories in a Liberty League doubleheader on Sunday afternoon in Saratoga Springs, with the Saints scoring four runs in the final two innings of the second game to come from behind for an 8-7 win and secure the split. Skidmore won the opening game 2-1 with a walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh. With the split, St. Lawrence is now 8-9 overall and 1-1 in conference this season, while Skidmore is 9-13 and is also 1-1 in Liberty League play. In game one, Skidmore took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run to left center, but the Saints pulled even in the top of the second when first-year Elle Gray hit an RBI double to left center that plated sophomore Emma Reakes for the Saints lone run of the game. With two out and one runner on the in the bottom of the seventh inning for Skidmore, Saints pitcher Emma Gailey walked Karly Fishkin and then intentionally walked Dani DeGregory to load the bases. An error on a ball hit to the infield by the next batter, May-Lin McEvoy, allowed the second and winning run to score for the Thoroughbreds. The Saints outhit Skidmore in the first game seven to four, but stranded seven runners in the game. Elle Gray led the Scarlet and Brown with a 3-for-3 performance, while Kylee Knight also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-3. On the mound, Gailey pitched six and two-thirds, allowing just four hits and one earned run, while striking out five. With the loss, the Simsbury, Conn. native is now 4-2 on the year. Gailey was also the pitcher of record in the Saints win in game two, picking up the win in a relief appearance as St. Lawrence used its full staff on Sunday afternoon. Allie Courtwright started and pitched one and two-thirds innings allowing five hits and three runs with two strikeouts before she was relieved by Hannah Sears who pitched two and a third with three hits, three runs and two strikeouts before. Gailey worked three innings to finish the game (4H, 1R, 2SO). The Saints jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning on five hits and one error, with runs coming across on a two-RBI single up the middle by Gray and then an RBI sacrifice and single by Kylee Knight and Madison Yarborough, respectively. Skidmore responded with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame and took a 6-4 lead with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the sixth, Knight tied the game for the Saints with a two-out, two-RBI double that plated both Elle Gray and Jordan Sheridan before she was thrown out trying to advance to third. Skidmore added another run in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead at 7-6, but an RBI double by Courtwright and an RBI single by Carly Dziekan in the top of the seventh gave the Saints their eventual 8-7 edge and the win. Of the team's 10 hits in game two, Mann, Courtwright and Gray each had two apiece, while Knight led the Saints with three RBI in the contest.

SUNY Poly's Kimberly Birmingham blasts the ball over the fence in center field for a home run and to bring home a runner on second base for an RBI in the fifth inning.  The Wildcats earned the shutout victory 14-0.  Pitcher Trinity Critelli twirled a no-hitter.  (Cody Jenne photo)

SUNY Canton's Sophia Gunderson rips the ball to the wall in centerfield for a double and drives in two runs to extend the Kangaroos lead to 6-1 in the third inning. The Roos' earned their first victory of the season, beating the Express 9-6.  Canton won the nightcap 17-4.  (Cody Jenne photo)    

The Cardinals team celebrates with Haileigh Agens (24) (Brasher Falls N.Y) at home plate after she drilled a two run homer over the fence in center field lifting SUNY Plattsburgh to 6-0 in the fifth inning. The Cardinals strung together a four run second inning lifting them to a 8-0 victory in the first game of a double header. (Cody Jenne photo) Game Gallery

SUNY Plattsburgh’s Haleigh Agens (24) from Brasher Falls, NY drives the ball into centerfield for a single and move a runner in scoring position on second base. The Golden Knights capitalized on two runs in the fifth inning to capture the 2-0 victory in the first game of the doubleheader with the Cardinals. (Cody Jenne photo) Game Gallery  

April 13: It was a North Country tangle on Wednesday afternoon when the Plattsburgh State softball team squared off with the St. Lawrence Saints in non-conference action. The Cardinals pulled off two late game turn-arounds to down the Saints 4-3 and 3-2 in both contests.   Game 1: Plattsburgh 4, St. Lawrence 3   A sixth inning surge propelled the Cardinals to victory in the first matchup with the Saints. Trailing 2-1, Plattsburgh State pushed across three runs in the top of the frame to take a 4-2 lead.   Both Dominique Zummo and Amy Glashoff reached on errors for Plattsburgh. Playing as the designated hitter, Hope VanBrocklin doubled to left field to bring in a run.   Immediately following VanBrocklin, freshman Anna Fisher singled up the middle, scoring Glashoff and VanBrocklin for the Cardinals.   The Saints tried to counter in the bottom of the frame, when Abrianna Schlickenmayer flied out to center field, scoring Elle Gray. However that was the only run the Saints would score for the rest of the game.   Cardinal senior Morgan Anderson went five and one third innings, striking out three and allowing one earned runs.   Offensively Fisher led the Cardinals from the batter's box, going 2-3 with two RBI's.   Game 2: Plattsburgh 3, St. Lawrence 2   Facing a 2-1 deficit in the top of the seventh inning, Plattsburgh State Head Coach Stephanie Conroy made the decision to insert Fisher, coming off a solid game one performance, as a pinch hitter to lead off for the Cardinals.   Well that decision proved to be huge as Fisher smacked a triple to right field to get the Cardinals rallying. Nicole Cast then flied out to center field, scoring Fisher and knotting the game at 2-2.   Plattsburgh wasn't quiet done yet. After Kelsey Gage reached on a fielder's choice, the Pine Bush N.Y. native stole second, giving teammate Kaitlyn Preiss a chance to give the Cardinals the lead.   Preiss did just that when she singled through the right side off of Saints pitcher Allie Courtwright, which scored Gage from second base.   The Cardinals had to turn around and play defense in the bottom of the seventh behind sophomore pitcher Katie Pitkin, who went all seven innings.   Pitkin was dominant in her matchup with St. Lawrence, only allowing three hits, giving up one earned run and striking out six batters.   With the two wins the Cardinals sit four games above .500 at 13-9, while the Saints fall to 8-11 overall.   Plattsburgh will be back in action on Friday as it hosts the Brockport Golden Eagles at Cardinal Park at 3 p.m.

April 10: It's not often there is a Sunday showcase for the Plattsburgh State softball team, but that was case in the matchup with the Oneonta Red Dragons as the Cardinals swept the doubleheader games 6-3 and 12-4 (6 inn.) on a chilly Sunday afternoon.   Game 1: Plattsburgh 6, Oneonta 3   Oneonta struck early in game one of the doubleheader. Getting two runs through on Cardinals pitcher Morgan Anderson.   However it was the Cardinals who would strike next in the third inning on a two out rally. With a man on, Jennifer Groat doubled to bring in Anna Fisher. Following Groat, Amanda Tantillo then tripled down the right field line to tie the game at two.   It was Plattsburgh again in the fourth inning showing its offense prowess, Jackie Decker and Kaitlyn Preiss each singled to left field to bring in a run, while Groat recorded a sac fly for the third run of the inning.   It was Groat again in the sixth with a base knock that brought in Fisher to round out the Cardinal scoring. The Ballston Spa native went 2-3 with three RBI's in game one.   Meanwhile, having given up two early runs, Anderson found a groove on the mound, keeping the Red Dragons off the board until a one run seventh. The only Cardinal senior went all seven innings and struck out three batters in earning the win.   Game 2: Plattsburgh 12, Oneonta 4 (6 inn.)   Plattsburgh was warmed up for round two with Oneonta. Offensively the Cardinals came out of the gates swinging, scoring five runs in the first two innings compared the Oneonta's one.   A quiet third and then three runs in the fourth and four runs in the sixth would cause an eight run rule to take effect and end the game in the bottom of the sixth innings.   Cardinal freshman Amy Glashoff was on third when Red Dragon pitcher Amanda Graziano let one loose and allowed Glashoff to score to end the game.   Cardinal sophomore Katie Pitkin went five innings on the mound, fanning three batters and walking two. Freshman Samantha Railey came in for relief in the sixth.   Offensively, Groat was 4-4 in game two with two RBI's, Tantillo went 2-2 from the plate with two RBI's and Decker 3-3 with four runs batted in.   With the win the Cardinals now sit at 11-9 overall, and move to 2-1 in SUNYAC play. Oneonta falls to 8-10, while dropping its first set of conference games now has them at 0-2 in the SUNYAC.