Devils ousted by Plattsburgh
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baseball
CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Fredonia State was ousted from the SUNYAC Tournament with an 8-6 loss Saturday at SUNY Cortland's Wallace Field.
The Blue Devils (25-10) were leading 6-4 when Plattsburgh rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth inning. The Cardinals (24-16) hung on for an 8-6 victory.
The loss was the first of the season for senior left-hander Ricky Carlson (Frewsburg), who fell to 6-1. Carlson allowed seven runs, six earned, in 7 1/3 innings.
The teams traded runs in the first inning with senior Jordan Basile (Jamestown) reaching on an error, stealing second, and scoring on a double by junior Don Kirsch (Cowlesville/Attica) for the Fredonia State run.
Fredonia State came out swinging and running in the second inning. Bryan Bongiovanni (Fredonia) and Taylor Gahagen (Amherst/Williamsville North) started with back-to-back singles. After a passed ball advanced both runners, Jeremy Borst (Clarendon, Pa./Warren) rapped a run-scoring single to center.
Borst stole second and Joe Kephart (Niagara Falls/Niagara Wheatfield) walked, loading the bases. Basile then flew out and Gahagen scored for a 3-1 lead. Josh Greco made it 4-1 with a single to right, and a double-steal completed the scoring, with Kephart stealing home and Greco second.
The teams again traded runs in the fourth inning. The Blue Devil run came when Borst singled to left, was sacrificed to second by Kephart, and scored when Basile split the gap in left-center for a double and his second RBI.
The Plattsburgh bullpen held the Blue Devils scoreless on three hits over the final 5 2/3 innings. Matt O'Leary worked three innings in relief of Plattsburgh starter Dan Tracy. O'Leary's effort yielded seven flyball outs while Matt Kelley induced six groundball outs over the final 2 2/3 innings. Kelley was the winning pitcher.