PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State baseball team took both ends of their doubleheader on Saturday against Oneonta, winning 8-7 in extras and 10-1 in the nightcap to pick up a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) series win. Andrew Veit (Yaphank, N.Y./Bellport) was the hero in game one, with a walk-off single and then threw eight strong in game two for the win, while Nick Goldberg (Commack, N.Y./Commack) tossed six innings of excellent relief to earn the game one win.

Goldberg gave the Cardinals a huge lift with his outing out of the bullpen in game one, as he gave up just three hits over six innings, allowing one run, and striking out four. Veit was equally excellent, starting the series rubber match and tossing eight innings of one-run ball striking out six for his fourth win of the year. The graduate student ranks third in the conference as he lowered his ERA to 2.89 on the season.

Plattsburgh State moves to 19-10 (7-5 SUNYAC) on the season and currently finds themselves in second place in the conference standings, as they hold the tiebreaker over New Paltz who has the same record. They next take on Oswego State on Tuesday, April 23 at 3 p.m. at Chip Cummings Field. Oneonta falls to 14-18 (4-11 SUNYAC) and next take on Elmira on Tuesday, April 23 at home.

Game One: Plattsburgh 8, Oneonta 7 (11 innings)

After coming back from an early five-run deficit, and tying it in the eighth, Veit gave the Cardinals a huge win to even up the SUNYAC series, as his 11th-inning single scored pinch-runner Justice Suafoa (Kinderhook, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) from second to give the Cardinals the win.

Austin Caldwell (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) led the offense with four hits, going 4-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Ben Catrambone (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) had two hits, reaching base four total times, and Jack Defayette (Rotterdam, N.Y./Schalmont) was 2-6 with two runs scored and a double. Alex Kornblau (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane) also had two hits and run scored, reaching base twice as he also hit and walked.

Chris Santic (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) started the game on the mound and went five innings, giving up six runs and striking out three. Goldberg entered for him in the sixth, finishing the game with a career-high six innings of work to earn his second win of the season.

The Red Dragons jumped on the Cardinals early, putting up two runs in the first inning on a Brendan Duffy single that scored two runs. After the Cards added a run in the bottom half of the frame on an Aidan Diltz (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) RBI groundout, Logan Hutter and Duffy each had two-run singles, putting the Red Dragons up 6-1.

After an error helped give the Cards a run in the bottom of the second, the score held at 6-2 until the bottom of the fifth, as both starters settled in.

The Cards finally got a rally going in the fifth after a one-out single from Caldwell and a subsequent double from Defayette which put two runners in scoring position for Plattsburgh. Catrambone then singled home Caldwell and Veit followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Defayette, bringing the Cards within two.

The Plattsburgh rally continued into the sixth as they chased the Red Dragon starter after Kornbalu doubled to start the frame and Daniel Novelli (Maracy, Venezuela/Cypress Creek (Fla.)) singled him home. After a fly out, back-to-back singles from Diltz and Caldwell brought home Novelli, tying the game at six runs apiece.

In the eighth, the Red Dragons finally were able to get a run across, with a Liam Kaseta sacrifice fly allowing them to retake the lead. After a two-out walk to the next batter, Goldberg induced an inning-ending groundout, starting a streak of 10 straight batters retired for the junior reliever.

Plattsburgh was able to respond immediately, taking advantage of a Oneonta error, as Diltz singled home a run to knot the game up at 7-7.

The ninth and tenth innings saw quick work from Goldberg and Joe Scarfone as each pitcher easily pushed the game to the 11^th.

After Goldberg retired the side in the top half of the frame, Caldwell singled to get the game-winning run on base for Plattsburgh. After a flyout, a clutch walk from Catrambone allowed the game-winning run to move to scoring position, where Suafoa entered to pinch run. Veit was up next and lined a flare into shallow right field, just out of the reach of the second basemen. Even with a late jump, Suafoa was able to slide ahead of the tag, giving the Cardinals a dramatic walk-off win.

Scarfone took the loss in relief, allowing just one run on two hits, while Duffy finished 2-5 with four RBI and Sean Liqouri was 3-5 with a run scored for the Red Dragons.

Game Two: Plattsburgh 10, Oneonta 1

After two eleven-inning games to start the series, the Cardinals had no intentions of another extra-inning affair, jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead to help them to a 10-1 over the Red Dragons, earning the series victory. Veit led the way with his eight innings of work, as he allowed just six hits and one run, walking only two batters to lead the Cards to the win.

Kornblau finished game two 3-4 with two RBI, two runs scored, a triple, and a walk, helping to lead a well-balanced offensive effort. Caldwell drove in three runs and was on base three times, while Mike Rasquin (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) and Defayette were each 2-5 with Rasquin scoring three times and Defayette driving in two runs. Eric Agan (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) pitched the ninth and struck out three batters to close out the 10-1 win.

After a scoreless top half, the Cards scored five runs in the bottom of the first on just three hits, taking advantage of four walks to pick up a nice advantage to start the game. Rasquin led off with a single and then walks to Kornblau and Diltz loaded the bases, chasing the Red Dragon starter who recorded just one out. The new pitcher walked Caldwell to bring in a run and Defayette then drove in two runs with a double down the left field. After another walk, Joey Di Rocco (Congers, N.Y./Clarksotwn South) brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and Adam Wein (North Rockland, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) then doubled home another run, giving the Cards a 5-0 advantage.

The 5-0 score held through three innings as Veit and Red Dragon reliever Tom Roefaro each quelled the opposing offenses. A Sean Clinton RBI single in the fourth got the Red Dragons on the board, but that was all Oneonta would get off of Veit.

The Cards added three runs in the sixth with a Diltz RBI walk and Caldwell two-run single and then a Kornblau two-run triple in the seventh nearly ended the game on a run-rule as Plattsburgh led 10-1.

After Veit cruised the seventh and eighth innings, the Cards turned to Agan in the ninth and the senior struck out the side, giving Plattsburgh State the win in the rubber match for a huge series victory.

Devin Rooney took the loss for Oneonta, going just .1 innings, allowing one hit and three earned runs. Josh Gilkey had the only multi-hit outing in game two for the Red Dragons while Clinton had the lone RBI.