CORTLAND, N.Y. - Facing elimination in a best-of-three SUNYAC playoff series, the Oneonta baseball team delivered a resilient effort to force a decisive game before ultimately falling to top-seeded Cortland in the winner-take-all finale at Wallace Field. After falling in yesterday's game one, Oneonta (20-19) took the second game 10-7, but Cortland (27-9-1) responded with a 10-4 victory in the second game to clinch the series.
Facing elimination, Oneonta delivered one of its most complete offensive performances of the season, overcoming a mid-game deficit and erupting late to extend its postseason.
Game 2: Oneonta 10, Cortland 7
The Red Dragons struck first in the third inning, capitalizing on a Cortland error before sophomore Zachary Rowe (Hudson, NY/Taconic Hills) drove in the opening run. Moments later, sophomore Ryan Cronin (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) ripped a two-run double to give Oneonta a 3-0 lead.
Cortland answered immediately with a four-run bottom half, powered by a three-run homer from Tristan Gatchalian, flipping the momentum and putting Oneonta behind 4-3.
In the fifth inning, Rowe singled and moved into scoring position before freshman Alex Halwick (Selkirk, NY/Ravena Coeymans Selkirk) delivered an RBI single to tie the game. Senior Nick Jacoby (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to push Oneonta back in front, 5-4.
Cortland again responded in the sixth, using a solo home run and a Oneonta error to reclaim a 6-5 advantage. Rowe launched a solo home run in the seventh to even the score at 6-6.
After a hit-by-pitch and a bunt single put two runners on, Rowe executed a sacrifice to move both into scoring position. Cortland intentionally walked senior Brendan Duffy (Southold, NY/Southold Jr./Sr.) to load the bases, but Cronin delivered in the clutch with a two-run single through the right side. Halwick followed with a two-run single of his own, stretching the lead to 10-6.
Cronin finished 2-for-3 with four RBIÂ and two walks, while Halwick went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Rowe turned in a dynamic performance, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs, a home run, and a sacrifice bunt.
On the mound, junior Lukas Jachens (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) provided critical relief, tossing the final 3.1 innings and allowing just one unearned run to earn the win.
Game 3: Cortland 10, Oneonta 4
Cortland jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run from Gatchalian. Oneonta responded in the second, stringing together three consecutive hits. Senior Gavin Carlucci (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas) drove in the first run, and junior Sean Clinton (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.
The game settled into a back-and-forth until the fifth inning, when Cortland regained the lead on another Gatchalian two-run homer.
In the sixth, Rowe singled to spark the rally before Duffy crushed a two-run home run to center field, knotting the game at 4-4.
However, Cortland counter in the bottom half of the inning. A pair of baserunners set the stage for Trey McGowan, who lined a two-run triple to give Cortland a 6-4 advantage.
Oneonta had opportunities to respond but struggled to capitalize against Cortland's bullpen. In the eighth inning, Cortland broke the game open. After loading the bases, Gatchalian delivered again with a three-run double, part of a four-run inning that pushed the lead to 10-4.
Gatchalian went 4-for-5 with seven RBIÂ and two home runs in the finale. McGowan added two RBI, while Cortland drew eight walks to keep pressure on Oneonta pitching.
For Oneonta, Clinton (2-for-4), Halwick (2-for-4), and Duffy (two RBI, home run) led the offense. The Red Dragons collected nine hits but were unable to match Cortland's timely extra-base production.
Starter Matt Neglia (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) kept Oneonta in the game through the middle innings but was tagged for six runs over 5.2 innings. Cortland's bullpen duo of Aaron Knuutila and Tommy Lynch combined to limit Oneonta to just two hits over the final four innings, closing out the series. Â
Cortland will now play the winner of the Oswego and New Paltz series next weekend for the SUNYAC Championship series.
