Boxscore and Play-by-Play

AMHERST, Mass. – The Plattsburgh State softball team continued to rely on strong pitching and its power to defeat third-seeded Amherst, 5-2, at the NCAA Division III Amherst Regional Tournament.
 
With the win, second-seeded Plattsburgh (33-9) remains in the winner’s bracket and will play Keene State later today at 4 p.m. Amherst (35-5) drops into the loser’s bracket to play eighth-seeded Keuka College at 2 p.m.
 
In the top of the first, Kelsey Ayers reached base for the Lord Jeffs on a muffed throw by Plattsburgh’s Brianna Clarke and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kaitlin Silkowitz stepped up to the plate next with a single to left field to bring home Ayers and give Amherst a 1-0 lead.
 
Brittany Marshall led of the Plattsburgh half of the inning with a home run to left field to even the score. Clarke tripled later in the inning before scoring on a double down the left field line by Michelle Iannone to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
 
The Cardinals displayed their power again in the second inning when Megan Price led off the inning with a home run to stretch the lead to 3-1.
 
Amherst got a run back in the third to cut the Plattsburgh lead to 3-2. Silkowitz singled and stole second to get in scoring position. Carolyn Miller’s single through the left side allowed Silkowitz to come around and score, making it a one-run game.
 
Dana Mandery got the sixth inning going for the Cardinals with a single up the middle. Brittany Marshall dropped a bunt single and Clarke was walked intentionally to load the bases for Michelle Iannone. Iannone came through with the two-out double to bring home a pair of insurance runs before Clarke was tagged out at the plate for the third out.
 
Iannone went 2-for-3 and finished the day with three RBI. Marshall was 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and two runs scored. Erin Florkiewicz also picked up a pair of hits.
 
Ashley Marshall issued a walk in the top of the seventh inning, but made quick work of the Lord Jeffs, going the distance to improve to 24-4 on the year. Marshall allowed three hits and an earned run, walking three and striking out five.
 
Amherst starter Theresa Kelley only lasted an inning as the Cardinals tagged her for two runs and five hits. Arielle Doering went the rest of the way, giving up three runs and seven hits.