PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Graduate student Sean Malamud (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner) tossed a complete game, five-hitter on Friday afternoon, leading Plattsburgh to a 5-2 win over Fredonia in what was potentially the final start of his collegiate career. The right-hander threw all nine innings, allowing just five hits, and two runs, and stuck out four to give the Cards the series-opening win in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action.
Behind Malamud, the team gave him solid defense as they made just one error, and the offense gave him solid support with five runs, despite just six hits. Jack Defayette (Rotterdam, N.Y./Schalmont) was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, as he finished 2-3 with an RBI 2B, a run scored, and a walk. Conner Gonzalski (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) drove in two runs as he finished the day with one hit, and Alex Kornblau (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) was 1-3 with an RBI 2B, a HBP, and two runs scored.
Plattsburgh improves to 13-20 (5-11 SUNYAC) with the win and concludes their season by taking on Fredonia in doubleheader conference action tomorrow, May 5. The team will honor six seniors for their contributions to the program in between games: Gonzalski, Daniel Grant (New Rochelle, N.Y.), Ryan Nista (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia), Christian Ott (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston), Mike Rasquin (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City), and Andrew Veit (Yaphank, N.Y./Bellport).
The game began quickly as each starter faced just six batters in the first two frames. After another 1-2-3 inning for Malamud in the top of the third, the Cardinals stuck first on the scoreboard in the following half-inning. Back-to-back walks from Defayette and Adam Wein (North Rockland, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep), Kornblau doubled down the left field line to plate Defayette. After another walk, Wein made a heads-up play on a passed ball, getting a great jump to score around the tag of the pitcher at the plate, putting the Cards up 2-0. In the same at-bat, Gonzalski sent a deep fly to left field, easily scoring Kornblau for a sacrifice fly and a 3-0 Cardinal lead.
The score remained until the top of the sixth as Malamud cruised and Fredonia reliever Owen Ludwig halted the Cardinal bats. A two-out RBI single in the first half of the sixth inning, however, plated the Blue Devils' first run, trimming the deficit to just two runs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Plattsburgh stretched their lead back to three runs, as Gonzalski plated Kornblau with a single up the middle. However, in the eighth, the Blue Devils rallied for a run and ended up loading the bases with two outs. Despite the jam, Malamud remained in control, forcing an inning-ending fielder's choice to escape the issue and strand the go-ahead run on base. The Cardinals then picked up a big insurance run in the eighth, as Defayette doubled to left to score a run, giving the Cards a 5-2 edge heading into the ninth.
In the ninth, Malamud quickly picked up the first two outs, but surrendered a single and walk to bring the tying run up to the plate. As he did all game, Malamud remained in control of the situation, inducing a groundout hit about five feet in front of home plate, which Wein fielded for the final out of the game at first.
Nathan O'Brochta took the loss despite giving up just one hit in three earnings, as three runs were charged to his ledger. Kyle Tedford has two hits and a run scored while AJ Roach and Jake Wentland each drove in runs for the Blue Devils.