CLERMONT, Fla. – Carly Gemmett tossed a complete game two-hitter with 13 strikeouts as the State University of New York at Plattsburgh made a pair of runs in the third inning stand up as the difference in an eventual 3-2 win over the Keene State College softball team on Sunday afternoon in the season opener for both teams at the Legends Way Ballfields, one of a number of facilities at The Spring Games in sunny (then stormy) Florida.

It was the collegiate coaching debut of Haley Chandler '13, who was a two-time First Team All-LEC player in her playing career at KSC and a key part of helping lead the Owls to an NCAA regional championship round appearance in 2012.  She returned to Keene after coaching at Salem High School (N.H.), where she was 72-18, a two-time NHIAA Division I Coach of the Year, and a state champion in 2021 (while making the semifinals two other times).

"The coaching part was the easier part honestly," she said of her debut.  "Making sure we got there on time and did everything correctly when we arrived was the tricky part!"

KSC (0-1) struck first, taking advantage of early wildness by Gemmett in the second as Lily Mandel worked a leadoff walk before Kalee Keyser and Lilah Demmy each took two-out free passes later.  Elyse Picard made those hurt, punching a single into right to plate two for a 2-0 lead.

Plattsburgh (1-0) got one back in the bottom half as Bella Toleman led off with a single and eventually came across on Michelle DeFina's two-out infield single to short.  Lilah Demmy walked the next two, but froze Gwen Noll to strand the bases loaded.

Gemmett settled in after the two-run second, retiring the side in order in three of the next four innings, whiffing four in the process.  In the fourth trailing 3-2, Molly Murray worked a five pitch walk to start the frame and then stole second, but the Plattsburgh senior arm fanned the next three in order, all swinging.

Demmy (0-1) struck out five in four innings, but it was ultimately the third inning that was costly, as Meghan Stork began what was ultimately the game-deciding rally with a base hit.  Two batters later after Stork stole second, Toleman lined a game-tying single to left.  The Cardinals took their first lead (3-2) when Megan Pillus lined a double to deep right with two outs to score Toleman.  Pillus was thrown out at third trying for a triple, with Carissa Miller and Murray combining for the outfield assist.

The one run KSC trailed proved to be elusive.  After two scoreless innings in the collegiate debut of Olivia Souers in the circle (2 H, BB, K), Kalle Halvorsen kicked off the top of the seventh with a bunt single.  It seemed Keyser may then sacrifice herself to get Halvorsen in scoring position, but she pulled back a bunt attempt while Halvorsen was trying to steal second and she was thrown out for a critical first out.  Souers worked a five-pitch walk with two outs to keep the game alive, but Picard struck out looking to end the game.

Gemmett (1-0) threw 127 pitches in the win and struck out 13 Owls while allowing just two hits and two runs.  She did walk six, but only two of them scored.

"Gemmett did a good job of controlling the speed of the game to her liking," said Chandler.  "She works fast, while we have been focusing a lot on slowing ourselves down.  It is something we talked about after the game – we need to make sure we are in control of the pace of our at-bats, not the opposing pitcher."

It was overall a solid opener for KSC's arms, which struck out six in six frames.

"Lilah was awesome.  She had great control and she and Abby (Weiterman) worked really well together," added Chandler.  "She and I talked after the game about her mindset going into her last inning – that she changed it completely and it worked well for her.  (When) we were heading into seeing their lineup for a third time, we went with Liv Souers who throws very differently than Lilah and I'm proud of how she threw.  She was nervous but settled in, kept her composure, and was the relief we needed to stay (in it)."

Toleman was the lone multi-hit effort of the game for either team (2-3, RBI, 2 R) in a game that featured just nine hits total and one for extra bases.

KSC's second contest against Nazareth University, originally scheduled for 4:15 p.m. and moved to 6:15, was eventually postponed (with no current make-up date) due to thunderstorms – and even a tornado warning – in the area.

The Owls are back at it with a pair of games on St. Patrick's Day (Monday, March 17) when they take on Salem State University (2-0) at 2:00 p.m. and Endicott College (1-1) at 4:15 p.m.

"I think we played well today.  Our defense was tight and chatty," said Chandler.  "We talked about how collectively they had quality at-bats and saw a lot of pitches.  So while we struggled offensively, we are still going to trust our approaches and get after it tomorrow."