Being the ace of the pitching staff comes with the expectation of facing the opposition's top guns as well.  For SUNY Oneonta junior, Steve Ascher, it has been the case this spring, as he faced another top pitcher and came out on the short end of a 4-1 decision to rival SUNY Cortland today at home.
 
Ascher pitched seven strong innings allowing six hits and two runs, both of which were unearned, while striking out eight batters.  Ascher is now 4-3 on the season and has lowered his team-leading ERA to 1.63.
 
Today, Ascher was outdueled by senior Mark Palumbo, who threw 6-2/3 innings allowing only two hits and the lone run.  Palumbo struck out four batters, as he pushed his season record to 4-0.
 
Cortland (23-7/11-2 SUNYAC) scored the game's first run in the top of the second inning.  PJ Rinaldi led off the inning with a single to center field and then stole second to move into scoring position.  Rinaldi went to third on a passed ball before coming home on a sacrifice fly to left field in foul territory by Vinny Bomasuto.
 
Oneonta (9-17/4-4 SUNYAC) tied the score in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Junior Matt Mastroianni drew a one-out walk and went to second on a wild pitch.  With two outs, sophomore Dylan Stamile singled through the left side and Mastroianni was able to beat the throw and avoid the tag to score for Oneonta.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, Cortland scored the go-ahead run on a throw that got by the third baseman on an attempted stolen base by Donny Castaldo that allowed him to score, as the ball went into short left field.
 
Cortland added two more runs in the ninth for the final of 4-1.  Rinaldi led Cortland with three hits.
 
The two teams will square off tomorrow to complete its three-game series.  The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12pm.