Plattsburgh Softball Claims Second SUNYAC Title with 3-2 Win at Cortland
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.
