AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Suffolk Baseball team extended its winning streak to five games with a doubleheader sweep over Plattsburgh State on Monday afternoon as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
Suffolk used a 12-run fourth inning in game one to cruise to an 18-5 victory before scoring two unanswered runs late in game two to complete the sweep with a 4-2 victory in the nightcap.
Game One: Suffolk 18 Plattsburgh St. 5
Plattsburgh State jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in their first at bat to start the game. Junior Adam Alabro doubled down the left field line to lead off the game before coming around to score on a base hit by junior T.J. Montalbano for the game's first run. Junior Trevor Markey, freshman Ryan Whalen and freshman Jon Craft all added RBI base hits later in the inning as Plattsburgh State sent 10 hitters to the plate in the visitor's half of the first.
Suffolk would answer with three of their own in the home half of the first, highlighted by a three run homer to right by junior Matt Brenner.
Suffolk would later even the game in the third when sophomore Seth Coiley singled in freshman Jake Frasca who doubled with one out in the inning.
In the fourth, Suffolk would send 16 hitters to the plate as part of a 12 run, nine hit parade highlighted by consecutive triples in as many at-bats by sophomore Brady Chant. Chant would drive in five runs in the inning as Suffolk broke the game open.
All nine starters in the lineup would collect at least one hit in the opener as Suffolk put together a 17-hit game one attack.
Coiley finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI.
Senior Jon Lapolla was also 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and two stolen bases in the opener.
Game Two: Suffolk 4 Plattsburgh St. 2
Freshman Kevin Sinatra picked up his first collegiate win in his start going the first five innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out three hitters.
The Suffolk bullpen of Frasca, and senior Cal Carroll combined to throw two scoreless innings to close out the game retiring six of the last seven batters in the contest. Frasca fired a 1-2-3 sixth inning with a pair of strikeouts before giving way to Carroll who pitched a scoreless seventh for his first save of the 2016 season.
Senior Julien Plana was 1-for-2 with a run scored in the nightcap while also drawing a walk. Plana would finish the day reaching base in six of seven plate appearances with three hits, two base on balls and a hit by pitch.
Suffolk jumped on the board early in the top of the first as Plana doubled down the right field line with one out. He would later take third in the inning before coming around to score the game's first run on a fielder's choice off the bat of Lapolla.
Suffolk would tack on another run in the second with junior Kevin Belskie singled to left with one out. After stealing second with two outs, Belskie would score on an infield single off the bat of junior BJ Neil.
Plattsburgh State would chip away at the lead when Montalbano singled in Calabro with a base hit in the third. The Cardinals would then even the game in the bottom of the fifth when Montalbano picked up his third RBI of the day, and second of game two singling back up the middle to score junior Billy Rombauts who doubled with two outs in the inning.
Suffolk would come back and score a pair in their following at bat. Plana would draw a walk to lead off the inning before giving way to junior pinch-runner Luke Ronchi. Ronchi would move to third with no outs on a botched picked off attempt before Coiley doubled, his fourth hit of the day to put Suffolk up for good. Sophomore Greg Speliotis would tack on some insurace later in the inning as he doubled to bring home Lapolla.
Neil finished game two going 2-for-3 with an RBI as he was the lone Suffolk player to record multiple hits in the victory.
Montalbano finished the day 4-for-7 combined in the doubleheader driving in four runs for Plattsburgh State who fall to 2-9 on the year.
Suffolk (5-1) will take on Westfield State at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning as it continiues their 10-game southern trip.
