PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Outfielder
Tyler Heck batted 3-for-5 with a double, triple, a RBI and a run scored. However, the Dutchmen baseball team was defeated by Plattsburgh State 6-2 at Chip Cummings Field on Wednesday afternoon.
One day after reaching double-digits in the win column, the Cardinals improved to 11-20 by handing the Dutchmen (18-7) just their seventh setback of 2013.
Taking the field in some late-April sunshine, Vargues was able to pitch around a two-out triple by Union's
Tyler Heck in the top of the first by registering two of his three strikeouts in the frame.
Wasting no time in giving their starter some run support, the Cardinals sandwiched a pair of hits between the second out of the first inning. Shane Houppert was responsible for the first Plattsburgh State hit of the tilt by ripping a double down the left field line. Chris Pescetti gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead just two batters later with a sharp single through the left side of the infield that plated Houppert.
Union knotted matters at one after
Jason Cohen looped a two-out RBI single to center field.
Jamie Faber, who was one of the two batters Vargues walked in the top of the fourth, scored the run.
Plattsburgh State took the lead for good in the second thanks to another timely swing by Pescetti. The sophomore sent an RBI single through the right side of the infield that scored Mat Chavez. That run was the only one of the unearned variety in the tilt by way of the first of two Union errors.
In his final innings of work, Vargues induced a pair of ground ball outs and a fly ball out before the Cardinals cushioned their lead. Luke Weaver got things going in the home half of the sixth by drawing a leadoff walk from Union reliever
Phil Kemp.
After swiping second base, Weaver reached third thanks to a sacrifice bunt from junior catcher John Casten. Nick Lupo made it 3-1 when his single to center field plated Weaver and after Mat Chavez reached base on a walk, Houppert put things out of reach for the Dutchmen.
The junior rapped a two-out single to right field and collected two RBIs as Lupo and Chavez crossed home plate to make the score 5-1.
Union pulled to within three runs after
David Peretti sent a two-out RBI single up the middle at the expense of Plattsburgh State reliever Scott Orr before the Cardinals responded with a two-out RBI of their own.
In his only plate appearance of the day, freshman Ben Weightman drilled the only pitch he saw up the middle to score Vargues for the final 6-2 tally.
Vargues (2-0) worked six innings and gave up just the one run while striking out three and walking a pair of Union batters on 99 pitches.
Matt Yonta (2-2) was hit with the loss for Union.
Houppert finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored while Pescetti turned in a 2-for-4 performance with two RBIs of his own.
Union will continue their Liberty League schedule as they take on Skidmore in a home-and-home series starting in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m. Union will host the Thoroughbreds in Central Park on Sunday, April 28 beginning at noon.
