Softball Blasts UNE in NCAA Regional Opener
Amherst, Mass. – After waiting a day to finally start the NCAA Softball Regional at Amherst College, the Plattsburgh State softball team (32-9) rolled over University of New England (26-13) 10-0 to move into the winner’s bracket.
Boxscore
With the win, Cardinals pitcher Ashley Marshall broke the program record for single-season victories by a pitcher. The win was Marshall’s 23rd of the season, breaking the previous record set by Jaclyn Leitze in 2006.
The Cardinals took the lead almost immediately when the second batter in the lineup, Allison Smiddy, smacked the first pitch that came at her straight out at center field for a single home run.
Smiddy was back at it again the third inning when she drove in Brittany Marshall to record her second RBI of the game and give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. Plattsburgh wasn’t done scoring in the third inning though, Michelle Iannone hit a shot up the middle that saw Smiddy round third and come home to increase the Cardinals advantage.
Ashley Marshall continued to leave the Nor’Easters scoreless and the Cardinal offense kept knocking in runs. In the fourth inning Samantha Capobianco drove a deep ball way over the center field fence for a single home run and then Megan Price launched a two-run homer into left field to make it 6-0.. Plattsburgh kept the fourth inning going when Brianna Clarke stepped up to hit a triple that brought Brittany Marshall and Smiddy home and then Erin Florkiewicz hit an RBI single that saw Clarke score. The Nor’Easters struggled to get out of the inning and Kayla Rabideau piled on the pressure when she stole home to give the Cardinals a 10-0 advantage.
Kelly Reid took the loss for the Nor’Easters after pitching 3.2 innings. She gave up five hits and three runs. Ashley Marshall pitched all five innings for the Cardinals, giving up four hits and keeping the Nor’Easters scoreless.
The Cardinals will now face Amherst College, who defeated St. Joseph’s earlier in the day, tomorrow at 9 a.m.
