Cardinal Points

Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Shumpei Kishi John Campbell hits the ball during Wednesday's game.

Media Credit: Shumpei Kishi Plattsburgh was able to take two games from Lyndon.

Media Credit: Shumpei Kishi Members of the PSUC baseball team in the dugout.

Media Credit: Shumpei Kishi Cardinal pitching was a strong-hold in Wednesday's game.

After starting the season with a strong 10-2 record, the Cardinals have gone somewhat cold along with the weather.

Away from the warm weather in Florida, the Cardinals have posted a 6-5 record in the unusually cool temperatures for this time of the year.

During their 10-game home stand, the Plattsburgh State Cardinals (16-7) have failed to capitalize on their only home stand of the season.

The Cards managed to steal a couple of games from Lyndon State College only after getting beat by both Skidmore College and St. Lawrence in games that were not close.

On Monday, the Cards took on the Skidmore State Thoroughbreds (11-10).

In the 3-10 loss, the Cards went down early after Skidmore second baseman Anthony Ferri tripled to right field to set the tone for the game. Afterwards, sophomore left hander Kevin Gent gave up a couple of singles, which led to an early three-run deficit.

For the next five innings, Gent managed to hold the Thoroughbreds scoreless, but was without much run-support.

In the top of the seventh, Gent who usually does an exception job at holding the runners, gave up two stolen bases and another run. After going down by four runs, Gent was replaced by sophomore right-hander Billy Davis.

Davis, who came in with runners on first and third, gave up another run after a fielding error was made. In response, the Cards put up its only fight of game when PSUC scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Sophomore outfielder Donny Coolidge tripled with two on and was brought home by a sacrificed ground-out by junior second baseman Zach Welch.

In the ninth, Skidmore State went on to ice the game with a four run outburst that included a triple by senior catcher Mike Salamone.

On Tuesday, the Cardinals extended its losing streak to three games after they were shutout, 0-6, by the St. Lawrence Saints (8-5).

Although the Saints had its last five games postponed, due to weather conditions, they showed little signs of rust. After being shutout for the first four innings by senior right hander Matt Dahlin, the Saints put up the first run of the game.

Duff scored on a passed ball after Kocan's ground-out sac. In the seventh, they tacked on another run as Kocan hit a single with a runner on third.

As the Cards put together another inning of inactivity and fly balls, the Saints broke out the game in the eighth.

After Dahlin gave up two singles, he was replaced at the mound by sophomore right hander Chris Murphy.

Murphy's time on the mound was short lived after he gave up two runs. Davis came to the mound and gave up a two-run RBI single from Kocan. After a quick ninth inning, the Cardinals endured yet another loss on its record.

In the first game of the double-dip against Lyndon State (2-6), the offensive woes of the Cardinals continued.

By the sixth inning they had gone through 17 innings without scoring a run.

The difference between this game and the last pointed toward the Cardinals' defensive re-emergence.

Sophomore right-hander Matt Kelley pitched a shutout complete game, finishing with nine strikeouts and two allowed hits.

In the seventh, their dubious scoring drought ended when Coolidge scored from second after Welch hit a grounder to the second baseman. The second baseman dropped the ball while trying to retire Welch.

The Cardinals managed to steal the game with two outs remaining in the inning.

Led by sensational relief work from Davis, the Cards managed to escape another thriller victoriously.

The Cards edged the Hornets with a 6-4 win to conclude the doubleheader. After a rough start by sophomore left-hander Joey Painter and a couple of stolen bases, Davis came to the rescue.

He managed to shut-out the Hornets for the last three innings of the game. This time around however, he was provided with run support.

In the first inning, the Cards scored after Kelley hit an RBI on a fielding error which bought in Zach Welch.

Senior third baseman John Coleman scored on a throwing error made by the second baseman.

In the bottom of the sixth, Coolidge came up big to lead off the two run rally, with a single to right field.

After junior catcher Brandon Humphrey walked, senior outfielder Paul Strang hit a sac ground-out.

Coolidge broke the tie when he scored on John Campbell's sac ground-out.

In the seventh, Rivers hit a single and advanced to third on a throwing error made by Humphrey.

Davis' wild pitch was recovered by Humphrey to tag sophomore pinch runner Nicholas Rivers out at home plate to win the game.

The Cardinals played all its games this week with slugger first baseman Todd Hughes in the lineup.

His absence was due to an undisclosed injury.

Further plans included saving him for this weekend's conference games.

On Saturday, the Oswego Lakers (7-6) come into town for the fifth SUNYAC conference game.

The Cardinals (2-2 SUNYAC) hope to extend its mini win-streak, while facing the Lakers.

The first pitch is scheduled for noon at Chip Cummings Field.

On Sunday, the Cards will host Cortland at noon for a doubleheader before welcoming Clarkson on Tuesday, April 17.

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