Ballston Spa grad Jennifer Groat SUNYAC Athlete of the Week

Sports staff CORTLAND, N.Y. >> Junior catcher/first baseman Jennifer Groat (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) of Plattsburgh State has been named the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Softball Athlete of the Week for the period ending March 18, as announced Monday by the conference office. Groat batted .688and tallied 13runs scored, five RBI, four doubles and one triple during the week for the Cardinals at the Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Fla. She also notched a base hit in all 10 games during the week. Groat went 2-for-4and 2-for-3, respectively, against Eastern Connecticut State and Ithaca College on Monday before going 4-for-4and 1-for-3, respectively, against Washington University in St. Louis and Utica College on Tuesday. She then went 3-for-3and 1-for-3, respectively, versus William Paterson University and Wisconsin Lutheran College on Thursday before batting 1-for2and 3-for-4against Rowan University and Beloit College, respectively, on Friday. On the team’s last game of spring break on Saturday, she hit 2-for-2against Skidmore College and 3-for-4versus Salve Regina University. For the season, Groat ranks second in the SUNYAC in batting average (.600), hits (27) and on-base percentage (.647). Plattsburgh State (6-8) opens up its SUNYAC schedule at home on Friday, when it hosts The College at Brockport in a 3p.m. doubleheader. Triola came in as a relief pitcher for the Cardinals against Alfred State to break the program record for longest relief appearance with 8.0 innings and helped them take a 6-2win. He scattered two hits, two runs, walked four and struck out five. Triola is the first Cardinals pitcher of the week since Scott Orr back on April 13, 2015. Plattsburgh State is back in action Friday, March 23to play SUNY Cortland at 3p.m. Gurnack had a tremendous at bat late. Powers had a monster day and Yankowski closed the door” Second baseman Nick Kondo (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs H.S.) went 1-for-3and scored a run in the UAlbany win. After 13games, the Great Danes finally open America East play this weekend at UMass Lowell. The UAlbany home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27against Massachusetts. a 1p.m. doubleheader and will host Stevens Institute of Technology in their home conference opener on April 8 at 1p.m.