SUNY Oneonta Athletics

CORTLAND, N.Y. - A competitive start slipped away late for the Oneonta baseball team on Friday afternoon, as Cortland used a pair of big innings to hand the Red Dragons a 14-2 setback at Wallace Field in the SUNYAC Tournament opener.

Oneonta showed early signs of keeping pace, answering Cortland's first-inning home run from Lucas Granger with a run of its own in the second. Freshman Alex Halwick (Selkirk, NY/Ravena Coeymans Selkirk) ignited the rally with a single, and after moving into scoring position, came home on an RBI single to left field by senior Anthony Loia (Hopewell Junction, NY/Arlington) to even the score at 1-1.  

The momentum was short-lived, however, as Cortland capitalized on a defensive miscue in the bottom half of the inning and strung together timely hits to plate three runs and take control. The hosts added two more in the third inning, stretching the lead to 6-1.  

Oneonta continued to battle and cut into the deficit in the fourth. Senior Nick Jacoby (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) reached and moved into scoring position before junior Sean Clinton (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) delivered a run-scoring double down the left field line, trimming the margin to 6-2.  

Oneonta finished with 10 hits but left 10 runners stranded, stalling several potential rallies.  

Clinton led the way offensively with a 2-for-4 effort that included a double and an RBI, while Halwick also added two hits and scored a run. Sophomore Zachary Rowe (Hudson, NY/Taconic Hills) and senior Brendan Duffy (Southold, NY/Southold Jr./Sr.) each recorded doubles, and Loia chipped in an RBI as part of his one-hit day. Jacoby added a hit, a run scored, and a stolen base, while sophomore Ryan Cronin (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and senior Matt Sandoval (West Islip, NY/West Islip Senior) also contributed base hits.  

On the mound, freshman Aiden Chartrand (Harrisville, NY/Harrisville) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing six runs—three earned—over 2.2 innings of work. Sophomore Caleb Nelson (Granville, NY/Granville Jr./Sr.) provided a steady stretch out of the bullpen, going four innings and allowing three runs while striking out two. Cortland pulled away late against the Oneonta bullpen, scoring three runs in the seventh before breaking the game open with a five-run eighth inning.  

Oneonta will look to regroup quickly as the Red Dragons continue their SUNYAC series against Cortland with game two on Saturday, May 2, at noon.