The Plattsburgh State softball team has continued to impress following another successful weekend against conference opponents.
After previously winning three of their first four conference games, the Cardinals brought that winning mentality into this past weekend, again winning three of the four conference matchups.
“We’re just using it as a confidence booster,” head coach Stephanie Conroy said. “Even though we didn’t like losing that one game, it gave us a good wake-up call of letting us know all the little things we need to do in order to win every single game.”
The Cards, now 6-2 in the SUNYAC conference and 18-10 overall, are feeling good about their upcoming matchups against Cortland, Oswego, Fredonia and Buffalo State.
“It gives us really good momentum going into a really long week coming up with a lot more conference games,” sophomore catcher Jackie Decker said. “We’re just going to build off what we learned last weekend and push the success our way.”
The Cards propelled themselves into this weekend with 7-6 and 4-3 come-from-behind victories against Clarkson University Wednesday afternoon, with both wins coming in walk-off fashion.
Sophomore second baseman Amanda Tantillo and freshman third baseman Amy Glashoff both came up with the game winners Wednesday.
Sophomore center fielder Dominique Zummo scored the tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning in the first game against the Golden Knights, but was removed after injuring herself in the 5th inning of the second game after colliding into sophomore right fielder Nicole Cast on an inbetween fly ball.
“The game was on the line in a way because we both wanted to win, so we both went after it, but it happens,” Zummo said.
PSUC will be playing eight games over the next four days, which has the potential to take a toll on the team this late in the season. However, staying late after practice and maintaining focus is how the Cards have been preparing themselves for what their schedule has in store for them.
“We’re used to playing a lot of games in a row if we need to,” Conroy said. “It’s something that we’ve prepared for, and we are ready to take it one game at a time.”
This weekend marks the beginning of a lengthy road trip for the Cards, who travel to play conference opponents SUNY Cortland and Oswego State Friday and Saturday, then continue their trip and face off against Fredonia and Buffalo State Sunday and Monday.
PSUC believes this stretch of conference matchups on the road will be a big test for the team, but with how well things have been going this season, the Cards feel confident and prepared for the challenges ahead.
“We’re all just mentally preparing ourselves during the weekend and getting our rest in when we can,” Decker said, who also emphasized that continual excitement each game is key in order to bring success and by playing each game like it’s a new opponent.
Overall, PSUC will treat the time spent away from home much like they did during its Florida trip earlier this season by maintaining a hard-working mentality and keeping the focus they need in order to succeed away from Plattsburgh.
Email Ezra Kachaturian at ezra.kachaturian@cardinalpointsonline.com
