A Quick Look
The SUNY Oneonta baseball team swept their non-conference doubleheader over Hilbert College with scores of 18-6 and 9-8. The sweep lifts the Red Dragons record to 5-4 on the year.
 
The Inside Story

Game 1
The Red Dragons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Jonathan Lezette (Saugerties/Saugerties) drove in Mickey Mullins (Vestal/Vestal) and Dominic Lamonica (Stony Brook/Ward Melville) with a single to center.
Hilbert responded with five runs in the top of the second to take a 5-2 advantage.

The Oneonta bats came alive again in the bottom of the third when they scored six runs. With two runners on, Jonathan Lezette (Saugerties/Saugerties) plated Dominic Lamonica (Stony Brook/Ward Melville) and Vincent Prisco (Northport/Saint Dominic) with a triple into the left centerfield gap. Patrick McGee (Mahopac/Mahopac) tied the game at 5-5 with an RBI double to left, scoring Jonathan Lezette (Saugerties/Saugerties) from third. With runners on the corners, the Red Dragons executed the double steal as Patrick McGee (Mahopac/Mahopac) scampered home to put Oneonta in front 6-5. David Deberardinis (Fishkill/John Jay) capped off the inning with a two-run triple to left, scoring Mike Graves (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central) and Matthew McAllister (Vestal/Vestal).

The Red Dragons increased their lead to 11-5 in the bottom of the fourth with three more runs. John Zinko (Wallkill/Wallkill) got the inning started with an RBI single to center, scoring Dominic Lamonica (Stony Brook/Ward Melville). Matthew McAllister (Vestal/Vestal) drove in two more runs with a single to right.

The Red Dragons put game out of reach with five more runs in the bottom of the six with big blow for Hilbert coming via a Patrick McGee (Mahopac/Mahopac) homerun over the left field fence.
Ryan Fay (Carmel/Carmel High School) earned the win after throwing an inning and a third of scoreless relief. Nick Fini (Chester/Monroe-Woodbury) also posted to scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Game 2
Oneonta once again jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first. Mickey Mullins (Vestal/Vestal) got things started with a leadoff walk, followed by back-to-back stolen bases. Vincent Prisco (Northport/Saint Dominic) brought Mullins home with a groundout to the right side.  With runners on the corners, Jonathan Lezette (Saugerties/Saugerties) hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Dominic Lamonica (Stony Brook/Ward Melville) who reached on a double.

The Red Dragons increased their lead to 5-0 with three runs in the top of the second. With runners on second and third, Mickey Mullins (Vestal/Vestal) reached on an error by the Hilbert shortstop, allowing Mike Graves (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central) to score from third. An RBI groundout by Vincent Prisco (Northport/Saint Dominic) brought home Chirs Saitch with Oneonta's fourth run of the game. Mickey Mullins (Vestal/Vestal) made the score 5-0 when he stole home as the Hibert catcher was throwing the ball back to the pitcher.

Hilbert would cut the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the third before Oneonta responded with two in top of the fourth to make it 7-2. Dominic Lamonica (Stony Brook/Ward Melville) got the inning started when he drove in Mickey Mullins (Vestal/Vestal) with double down the left field line. John Zinko (Wallkill/Wallkill) scored Dominic Lamonica (Stony Brook/Ward Melville) with an RBI single to center.

Hilbert got back into the game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 7-5. In the top of the fifth, the Red Dragons were able to manufacture a run. After Sean McGlynn (New Hartford/New Hartford) singled to left, he proceed to steal second and third before Mike Graves (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central) hit a sacrifice fly to right, upping the Oneonta lead to 8-5. Hilbert wouldn't go down easy as they pulled within striking distance with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

In the top of the seventh, Oneonta put what proved to be the game winning run on the board. Jonathan Lezette (Saugerties/Saugerties) capped off his day with a leadoff triple to center. Patrick McGee (Mahopac/Mahopac) followed with a sacrifice fly to center, putting the Red Dragons up for good.

David Deberardinis (Fishkill/John Jay) earned the win while Steven Gerringer (LaGrangeville/Arlington) earned his second save of the season.

Just the Stats
Jonathan Lezette (Saugerties/Saugerties) paced the Red Dragons with a 4-for-6 day with five RBI, three runs and eight total bases. Dominic Lamonica (Stony Brook/Ward Melville) went 3-for-6 with five runs scored. Mickey Mullins (Vestal/Vestal) also had three hits with six runs scored, three RBI and seven stolen bases. John Zinko (Wallkill/Wallkill) and Patrick McGee (Mahopac/Mahopac) had three hits and three RBI each.
 
What's Next
After an off day tomorrow, the Red Dragons return to action on Saturday, March 9th when they begin SUNYAC action with a doubleheader against Fredonia beginning at 3:00 p.m.