PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State softball team split with SUNY Geneseo in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Cardinal Park, defeating the Knights, 5-3, in game one before falling by an 8-6 final in game two.
 
Plattsburgh State moves to 9-9 overall (3-1 SUNYAC) with the results and next hosts Middlebury College in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 4, at 3:30 p.m. Geneseo moves to 12-4 overall (1-1 SUNYAC) with the results and visits Keuka College next on Monday, April 2, for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Game 1: Plattsburgh State 5, Geneseo 3
 
Plattsburgh State exploded for four runs in the fourth inning to defeat Geneseo, 5-3, in game one of the doubleheader.
 
After being held hitless in the first three innings, the Cardinals broke a scoreless tie in the fourth. Senior third baseman Jackie Decker (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) drove in junior left fielder Jennifer Groat (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) with a double to right center to open scoring, while senior right fielder Amanda Tantillo (Florida, N.Y./S.S. Seward) singled to left field during the ensuing at-bat to plate Decker. Junior catcher Anna Fisher (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) then hit a two-run home run to make it a 4-0 game, marking her first career homer.
 
The Knights cut the deficit in half in the fifth, as junior second baseman Kylie Papagelos scored two runs with a double to center field. Fisher added insurance for the Cardinals with an RBI double to right field in the sixth, while the Knights' sophomore shortstop Brooke Wolff hit an RBI double in the top of the seventh to spell the final score. With the potential go-ahead run at the plate for Geneseo in the seventh with two outs, senior pitcher/designated player Taylor Smith (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) induced a pop-up to senior first baseman Kelsey Gage (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) in foul territory to end the game.
 
Groat and Fisher each had two hits to pace the Plattsburgh State bats, with Groat going 2-for-2 with a run scored, a double and a triple and Fisher batting 2-for-3 with three RBI, one run scored, a double and a home run. Junior left fielder Danni Napoli was the lone Knight to post multiple hits.
 
Senior pitcher Katie Pitkin (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) earned the win in the circle for the Cardinals, allowing two runs on five hits, three walks and a hit by pitch while striking out two. Smith picked up the save, yielding one run on three hits and a walk while striking out one. Junior pitcher Taylor Moore shouldered the loss for the Knights, permitting four runs on four hits, a walk and a hit by pitch while striking out one.
 
Game 2: Geneseo 8, Plattsburgh State 6
 
Geneseo prevailed in a game full of defensive miscues in the nightcap, as the two teams combined for seven errors. Plattsburgh State's offense continued to click on all cylinders, however, scattering 12 hits.
 
The Cardinals got on the board in the bottom of the first, as Groat hit an RBI double to right field. Three batters later, freshman designated player Bella Spadinger (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field, and a second run came across on an error during the same play.
 
The Knights countered with three runs in the top of the second. Papagelos drove in a run on a fielder's choice play before Wolff came across on a Plattsburgh State error. Junior third baseman Anna Merante tied the game at 3-all with a single through the left side during the ensuing at-bat.
 
Junior shortstop Kaitlyn Preiss (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall) put the Cardinals ahead with an RBI single to left center in the bottom of the second, but Geneseo tied the score once again in the top of the third, as Wolff drove in a run on a double to right center. The Knights scored a run on a wild pitch in the fourth to take the 5-4 lead before opening up an 8-4 cushion with a three-run sixth. In the sixth inning, Napoli hit a two-run home run to left field before senior pinch hitter Claire VanNewkirk drove in the third run in the frame on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.
 
Plattsburgh State mounted a rally in the seventh, as Gage plated Groat with a single to center field, while senior center fielder Felicia Torres (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) scored Gage with a single two batters later. Geneseo was able to induce a groundout to the pitcher to end the game, however, with the potential winning run on deck.
 
Preiss keyed the Cardinal attack with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate that included one run scored and one RBI, while senior left fielder Dominique Zummo (Commack, N.Y./St. Anthony's), Gage and Fisher also had multiple hits. Napoli, Merante and Wolff all had two hits to lead Geneseo.
 
All three Cardinal pitchers threw in the loss, allowing just four earned runs out of the eight on the board. Sophomore pitcher Ashlyn Kersch earned the victory for the Knights, permitting four runs (two earned) on 10 hits, two walks and a hit by pitch while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings of work. Moore came in and earned the save, tossing 1 1/3 innings of relief.