CORTLAND, N.Y.—Behind a strong pitching performance by junior
Christopher Smith (Colonie/Colonie) and four hits by sophomore Mike DeCarr, the SUNY Oneonta baseball team was able to defeat Brockport, 5-2, in the opening game of the 2011 SUNYAC tournament hosted by top seed Cortland. Oneonta is the No. 3 seed for this year's double elimination tournament and will now play the winner of the Cortland-New Paltz game tomorrow at noon.
Oneonta (21-15) was able to avenge being swept by the Golden Eagles just last weekend at home. Smith scattered six hits over nine innings while striking out seven batters en route to picking up his fourth win of the season. The win for the Red Dragons also snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Both pitchers cruised through the first four innings, as the game remained scoreless. The two hurlers combined to strike out nine batters through the first four frames.
In the top of the fifth, Oneonta would make Brockport (24-11) pay for a throwing error that led to four unearned runs.
The inning started with a single to right field by freshman
Sean Fruscio (Latham/Shaker) who then went to second on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by junior
Kevin Knack (Ghent /Ichabod Crane), which gave Oneonta its two lead off batters aboard.
Sophomore
Bryan Marotta (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) then sacrificed both runners up one base. Brockport then intentionally walked DeCarr to load the bases setting the stage for senior
Jonathan Wolfanger (Oneonta/Oneonta). Wolfanger made the Golden Eagles pay with a sharp single to right field to drive in Fruscio and Knack, giving Oneonta a 2-0 lead.
The next batter was senior
Pete Lindner (Voorheesville/Voorheesville), who doubled down the right field line to drive in DeCarr from third base while Wolfanger came all the way around from first base to increase the Red Dragons' lead to 4-0.
Brockport scored single runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to cut the Oneonta lead to 4-2, but an insurance run in the top of the ninth gave Oneonta its final margin of victory. DeCarr drove in Knack, who had reached on a bunt single and went to third base on a throwing error by the pitcher on a failed pick off attempt.
Oneonta collected 10 hits in the game including a 4-for-4 performance by DeCarr. Wolfanger had a pair of hits to go with his two runs batted in while Lindner had the double and the pair of RBIs.
Oneonta State 5, Brockport 2 (May 06, 2011 at Cortland, NY)
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Oneonta State....... 000 040 001 - 5 10 2 (21-15)
Brockport........... 000 011 000 - 2 6 3 (24-11)
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Pitchers: Oneonta State -
Christopher Smith (Colonie/Colonie) and
Bryan Marotta (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa);
Eric Wells (Athens, PA/Athens).
Brockport - Aaron Tilley; Anthony Siracusa (8) and Mike Goldstein.
Win-
Christopher Smith (Colonie/Colonie) (4-2) Loss-Aaron Tilley (4-1)
