ONEONTA, N.Y.—For the second straight game the SUNY Oneonta baseball team had to play 12 innings before pulling out a win. Today, it was a 6-5 victory against SUNYAC foe Plattsburgh in weather that was more conducive to a winter sport than a spring sport. With the win, Oneonta (20-8) reaches the 20-win mark for the tenth consecutive year and 15th time in 16 years under head coach, Rick Ferchen.

Junior Kevin Knack (Ghent /Ichabod Crane) was the hero today for Oneonta (20-8) as he hit a two-out single to left center field to drive in classmate Cody Hitt (Boonville/Adirondack) from third base for the game-winning run. Hitt led off the 12th with a walk before being sacrificed to second base by classmate Michael Center (Schenectady/Schenectady). Hitt moved to third on a ground out to shortstop by Matthew Whelehan (Brooklyn/Midwood), setting up the final play for Knack.

Knack finished the game with four hits and two RBIs to lead the offense this afternoon.

Picking up his second win of the week in relief was junior Chris Tyson (Niskayuna/Niskayuna), who pitched 4-1/3 scoreless innings allowing only two hits and striking out one batter. Tyson followed classmate Corey Andresen (Deposit/Deposit), who went 2-2/3 innings allowing only two hits, no runs while striking out three batters.

Plattsburgh (12-17/5-8) jumped on Oneonta starter Jeffrey Carter (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) for two runs in the top of the first inning. A two-run double by Pat Shaughnessy drove in Danny Roeser and Kris Cauchon. Roeser reached on an error to start the game and Cauchon followed with a double down the left field line.

Carter ended up throwing five innings allowing five runs, one earned, five hits and striking out four Cardinals.

Oneonta scored single runs in the first and second to tie the score at two apiece. Back-to-back doubles by sophomores Bryan Marotta (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) and Michael DeCarr (Syracuse/Westhill) accounted for Oneonta's first run of the game. Jonathan Wolfanger (Oneonta/Oneonta) scored Oneonta's second run via a wild pitch.

Oneonta created some breathing room with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hitt was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then stole second and came around to score on a single to left field by Center. Center stole second and scored on a one-out single to center field by Knack. Knack scored the final run of the inning on a double to left field by Marotta.

Plattsburgh rallied in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game. They strung together a couple of hits mixed with a couple of walks and a throwing error to push across three runs.

After the Cardinals loaded the bases with no outs, Carter walked Anthony Preston to force in the first run. A one-out sacrifice fly by Roeser knocked in Crockett Pack with the second run of the inning. Then Cauchon singled to drive in Jon Handy, who had stolen third base. Plattsburgh loaded the bases again with two outs, but Andresen, who relieved Carter, got Donny Coolidge to ground back to the mound for the final out.

The Cardinals threatened again in the eighth inning, but Tyson was able to get Coolidge to pop out to second base with the bases loaded.

Oneonta will be at Cortland tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. The two teams are tied atop the SUNYAC standings with identical 11-1 records in the conference. This weekend's series may well determine who will host the conference tournament that begins on Friday, May 6.

Oneonta State 6, Plattsburgh 5
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Plattsburgh......... 200 003 000 000 - 5 9 2 (12-17, 5-8 SUNYAC)
Oneonta State....... 110 300 000 001 - 6 11 5 (20-8, 11-1 SUNYAC)
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Pitchers: Plattsburgh - Brian Burns; Paul Handy (4); Steven Corea (5) and Jeremy Peet; Casey Brighton.
Oneonta State - Jeffrey Carter (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa); Corey Andresen (Deposit/Deposit) (6); Chris Tyson (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) (8) and Bryan Marotta (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa).

Win-Chris Tyson (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) (3-1) Loss-Steven Corea (0-2)

J. CARTER faced 4 batters in the 6th.