BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team dropped a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader to Buffalo State on Saturday afternoon at the Buffalo State Softball Field, falling, 5-4, in game one before dropping a 7-4 decision in the nightcap.
 
Two different Cardinals reached milestones during the doubleheader. Junior catcher/first baseman Jennifer Groat (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) extended her hitting streak to 36 games, which includes the final 11 games from 2017 and the first 25 contests of the 2018 campaign. That now ties for the second-longest streak in NCAA Division III history, as Jill Van Wychen of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point registered a hit in 36 straight games during the 2003 season. In addition to Groat, senior third baseman Jackie Decker (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) notched her 100th career hit in game one of the twinbill, and she finished the day with 101 after posting a hit in game two as well.
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 12-13 overall (4-4 SUNYAC) with the losses and next visits Fredonia tomorrow for a 12 p.m. doubleheader. Buffalo State rises to 8-13 overall (6-4 SUNYAC) with the wins and next hosts SUNY Potsdam tomorrow at 11 a.m.
 
Game 1: Buffalo State 5, Plattsburgh State 4
 
Buffalo State overcame three errors in game one and pushed across the eventual game-winning run in the sixth to come away with the victory.
 
Senior designated player Abijah Adams kicked off scoring for the Bengals in the first with an RBI single to left field, while the Cardinals countered with four runs in the third. Senior left fielder Dominique Zummo (Commack, N.Y./St. Anthony's) singled up the middle to drive in two runs with one out in the third before Decker plated two more runs two batters later to make it a 4-1 game.
 
Buffalo State scored a run on an RBI single by Adams in the bottom of the third and tied the game in the fourth after back-to-back RBI hits by junior left fielder Hannah Dunlap and senior center fielder Danielle Szymkowiak. Dunlap drove in the eventual game-winning run in the sixth, doubling to left field to score junior shortstop Jenna Blujus.
 
Zummo and Groat each batted 2-for-4 in the contest to key the Cardinal attack, with Zummo adding two RBI, a double and a run scored and Groat adding a run scored. Dunlap led four Bengals with multiple hits, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.
 
Senior pitcher Katie Pitkin (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) shouldered the loss for the Cardinals, yielding five runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out seven, while senior pitcher Taylor Smith (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) allowed just one hit in two-thirds of an inning in relief. Sophomore pitcher Marissa Hayes earned the win for the Bengals, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out four.
 
Game 2: Buffalo State 7, Plattsburgh State 4
 
Buffalo State never trailed in game two, as it overcame four runs from the Cardinals in the fourth inning by adding three runs of insurance in the last two frames.
 
Szymkowiak hit a solo home run in the first to put the Bengals on the board, while senior first baseman Nicole Adams and senior right fielder Justine Silva hit a solo homer and an RBI double in the second, respectively, to push the Buffalo State advantage to 3-0. Abijiah Adams drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the third, though Plattsburgh State pieced together a rally in the fourth to tie the game.
 
Senior center fielder Felicia Torres (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) scored on an error on a bases-loaded fielder's choice play to erase the shutout bid for the Bengals, and freshman second baseman Shannon Myles (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur) doubled in two runs during the next at-bat. Junior third baseman Amy Glashoff (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) then plated Zummo on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 4-all.
 
Junior third baseman Cassie O'Hern gave Buffalo State the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and Szymkowiak drove in two runs on a single to left field in the sixth to add insurance.
 
Five different Cardinals had hits in game two, while Blujus and Szymkowiak each scattered three hits for Buffalo State.
 
Two pitchers threw for Plattsburgh State in the setback, with sophomore pitcher Rhea Pitkin (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three in 4 2/3 innings of work and Smith yielding two runs on three hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Sophomore pitcher Marissa Hayes picked up the win for the Bengals, permitting four unearned runs on five hits, two walks and two hit by pitches while striking out two.