Boxscore and Play-by-Play
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Throughout the past few weeks, the Plattsburgh State softball team has had Cortland’s number and today was no exception as the Cardinals defeated the Red Dragons, 3-2, to claim their second State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship.
The title win marks the first for Plattsburgh State (31-9) Head Coach Stephanie Zweig and second in program history. The Cardinals won their first conference championship in 2006. With the win, Plattsburgh receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and will make its first appearance since 2007.
Plattsburgh jumped on Cortland (38-8) early after Brittany Marshall led off the game with a triple and scored on a groundout by Allison Smiddy.
The Cardinals clung to the one-run lead until the bottom of the fifth when the Red Dragons tied it on a home run to left field by Cassie Kardias.
A two-run single to center field by Smiddy gave Plattsburgh a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh but the Red Dragons fought back in their final at-bat. Abby Martin opened the Cortland half of the seventh with a double to right center before Meaghan Kohler was intentionally walked. Kayla Lynch doubled down the right field line to drive home Martin and put runners on second and third. Ashley Marshall, who came on in relief of Plattsburgh starter Heather Loughran, worked out of the jam to secure the victory.
Smiddy drove in all three Cardinal runs while Brittany Marshall went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Loughran got the start for Plattsburgh, holding Cortland to one run and two hits through 4 1/3 innings. Ashley Marshall tossed 2 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one run and two hits to earn the win and improve to 22-4 on the year.
Lyndsay Rowell threw the first inning for the Red Dragons, allowing one run and one hit. Abby Martin suffered the loss after surrendering two runs on five hits through 5 1/3 innings of work.
Ashley Marshall was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Marshall was joined by Smiddy, Brianna Clarke, Erin Florkiewicz and Dana Mandery on the All-Tournament Team.
The Cardinals will find out where they are headed on tomorrow’s NCAA Selection Show at 10 a.m., which can be seen live on NCAA.com.
May 21, 2012
Four Earn NFCA All-American Honors
May 16, 2012
SUNYAC Places 15 on NFCA All-Region Teams
May 12, 2012
Cards Use Power and Pitching to Top Amherst, 5-2
May 12, 2012
Plattsburgh Cruises to 15-0 Win against Keene State
May 11, 2012
Softball Blasts UNE in NCAA Regional Opener
May 11, 2012
Red Dragons Nipped 2-1 by Keene St. at NCAA Regional
May 9, 2012
Softball Award Winners and All-Conference
May 2, 2012
Farrell's Record Earns ECAC Award
May 1, 2012
2012 Softball Tournament Quick Facts
April 18, 2012
Erin Fleming Named ECAC Pitcher of the Week
April 16, 2012
Wasik and Fleming Named SUNYAC Athletes of the Week
April 11, 2012
Kohler and Marshall Earn ECAC Weekly Honors
April 9, 2012
Tribute to Sandy Hollander Set for Sunday, April 15
April 4, 2012
ECAC Honors Stoddard and Coneys
April 2, 2012
Weekly Softball Honors go to Stoddard, Dumas and Coneys
March 26, 2012
Lekki and Rowell Earn Softball Weekly Honors
March 13, 2012
Cortland Sweeps Weekly Softball Awards
March 1, 2012
Cortland Tops Plattsburgh in Preseason Softball Poll
February 1, 2012
Cortland Softball Ranked Sixth in Preseason National Poll
October 12, 2011
Softball Earns NFCA All-Academic Awards