SUNY Oneonta Athletics

Baseball (12-6/6-0)

Apr. 2nd at Oswego, W 9-2; W 3-1
The SUNY Oneonta baseball team remained hot last Saturday sweeping a doubleheader from Oswego to move to 5-0 in the SUNYAC. The Red Dragons got eight strong innings from junior Joshua Herzenberg (White Plains, White Plains) in game 1 while getting a strong performance on the mound in game 2 by classmate Jeffrey Carter (Clifton Park, Shenendehowa).

In the first game, Oneonta trailed 2-0 entering the top of the fourth inning before making the Lakers pay for three errors and exploding for six runs to take the lead.

Junior Eric Wells (Athens, PA, Athens) and senior Pete Lindner (Voorheesville, Voorheesville) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Jonathan Wolfanger (Oneonta, Oneonta) then reached on an error by the first baseman, which allowed Wells to score from second for the first run of the inning. Junior Cody Hitt (Boonville, Adirondack) then singled to drive in Lindner with Oneonta’s second run.

Back-to-back errors by the Oswego pitcher allowed three more runs to score before Wells knocked in the final run of the inning with a single, which knocked in sophomore Michael DeCarr (Syracuse, Westhill).

Herzenberg seized the opportunity and shut down the Lakers for the next five innings. He struck out six batters and allowed nine hits and two runs in keeping his record perfect at 3-0. Freshman Zachary Levanduski (Elmira Heights, Thomas Edison) pitched the ninth in relief and retired the side in order.
Wells, DeCarr and leadoff hitter, Michael Center (Schenectady, Schenectady), finished the game with two hits each.

In the second game, Oneonta broke a 1 all tie with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning en route to a 3-1 victory. Carter pitched 6-2/3 innings striking out four and allowing only three hits before giving way to junior Chris Tyson, who came in to get the final out to earn his second save of the season.

Sophomore Dean Haussel (Sound Beach, Miller Place) pinch-hit for Lindner and was walked to start the seventh. Wolfanger followed with a single to put runners at first and second. After Hitt struck out, Matthew Whelehan (Brooklyn, Midwood) hit a single to right field and got caught in a run down between first and second long enough for Wolfanger to score behind Haussel.

Apr. 3rd at Oswego, W 5-2
The SUNY Oneonta baseball team completed its weekend sweep of Oswego last Sunday with a 5-2 win and, in the process won its seventh straight game. The Red Dragons remained undefeated in the SUNYAC and are currently atop the conference standing with its 6-0 record.

Oneonta got another strong pitching performance from junior Christopher Smith (Colonie, Colonie), who pitched six scoreless innings and allowing two hits while striking out six Lakers. Smith earned his second win of the week as he previously earned a win this past Wednesday against Fredonia.

The Red Dragons broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning with three runs. Junior Kevin Knack (Ghent , Ichabod Crane) led off the inning with a single and went to third base on a throwing error by the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore DeCarr, who went to second on the error. Knack scored on a ground out to third base by Bryan Marotta (Clifton Park, Shenendehowa), which also moved DeCarr to third.

After an intentional walk to junior Wells, senior Lindner made the Lakers pay with a single to drive in DeCarr with the inning’s second run. Senior Wolfanger then walked to load the bases and a ground out to short stop by sophomore Mike Mascari (Syracuse, Westhill), knocked in Wells from third base.

Oneonta added a single run in the fourth inning to increase its lead by one run. Knack started the inning with a double and came around to score on a one-out single by Wells.

Oneonta’s final run came in the eighth inning on a two-out RBI single by DeCarr that drove in freshman Sean Fruscio (Latham/Shaker), who singled to lead off the inning and stole second. He went to third on a Knack ground out to the first baseman before scoring on DeCarr’s hit.

Oswego threatened in the bottom of the ninth, scoring a pair of runs that were charged to Oneonta’s first reliever, Corey Andresen (Deposit, Deposit). Freshman Levanduski recorded one out before giving way to junior Chris Tyson (Niskayuna, Niskayuna), who recorded the final two outs to pick up his third save of the season.

Apr. 7th vs. Ithaca, W 8-0
Junior Herzenberg pitched another gem last Thursday in leading SUNY Oneonta to an 8-0 victory over visiting Ithaca College in non-conference baseball action. The win for the Red Dragons was its eighth straight and raised its overall record to 12-6 on the season.

Herzenberg is now 4-0 this spring and lowered his team leading ERA to 1.17. He struck out seven Bombers while walking none.

Half of the run damage came in the third inning when Oneonta strung together some hits while taking advantage of a couple of Ithaca miscues in the field.

Senior Wolfanger got things going in the third for Oneonta with a leadoff single through the left side. Wolfanger was then hit by a ball that was headed towards center field off the bat of junior Hitt, for the first out of the inning.

Hitt stole second, went to third on a single to center field by freshman Jake Robinson (East Norwich, Oyster Bay) and scored when the center fielder misplayed the ball. Robinson was able to move into scoring position on the misplay. He then moved to third on an infield single to second base by Center and on the ensuing action, an error by the second baseman allowed Robinson to score and Center to move to second base.

A fly out to center field by Knack was deep enough for Center to move up to third base. DeCarr was awarded first base on a catcher's interference call to put runners at the corners with two outs. A wild pitch allowed Center to score and DeCarr to advance to second base. DeCarr then scored on an RBI single to left field off the bat of sophomore Marotta.

Oneonta scored a pair of runs in the fifth and seventh innings for its final four runs of the day. Designated hitter, Wells, led Oneonta with two hits to go with two RBI's. DeCarr scored three runs while driving in a pair of runs.

Softball (8-7/2-2)

Apr. 2nd at Oswego, W 13-0; W 7-1
After being relegated to indoor practice and no games for three weeks, the SUNY Oneonta softball team resumed its season last Saturday by sweeping Oswego on the road. The Red Dragons hammered Lakers pitching en route to a 13-0 win in five innings in game 1 while taking game 2, 7-1.

Oneonta would score all the runs they would need in the first game in the second inning. The Red Dragons belted two home runs in the inning and eventually were put out, but not until they passed the plate 10 times. Senior Katie Hackenburg (Queensbury, Queensbury) led off the inning with a solo home run to get things started. Hackenburg would also double later in the inning. The other home run came off the bat of sophomore Jaime Lukas (Ridgewood, NJ, Ridgewood), who hit a two-run shot with two outs.

In the fourth inning, Oneonta would score its final three runs including two via a home run by sophomore Kalyn Deso (Schenectady, South Colonie).

Freshman Kerry Leggett (Ballston Lake, Shenendehowa) pitched all five innings allowing four hits and striking out four to record her first win of her collegiate career.

In game 2, Oneonta trailed 1-0 entering the top of the second inning before senior Sam Voncina (Derby, Lake Shore) tied the score with a leadoff home run. It was Voncina’s fifth round-tripper of the season.

Hackenburg hit an RBI single in the third inning to give the Red Dragons a 2-1 lead. Hackenburg would hit an RBI double in the fifth as part of a three-run inning.

Deso would finish the game with a pair of hits including an RBI double in the fifth inning for Oneonta.

Junior Jessica Bartalsky (New Paltz, New Paltz) turned in a stellar performance on the mound striking out a collegiate career high 13 batters, going the distance and picking up her fourth win of the season.

Apr. 3rd at Cortland, L 2-9; L 1-8
The SUNY Oneonta softball team found themselves locked in a battle with its rival Red Dragons of Cortland last Sunday, but came away empty as the host Red Dragons swept Oneonta in a SUNYAC doubleheader. Oneonta fell to Cortland by the scores of 9-2 and 8-1.

Oneonta got on the scoreboard in the first inning of game 1 on a two-out RBI single through the left side by senior Voncina. Freshman Tricia Kendziera (Poughquag, Arlington) came in to score on the hit. Kendziera led off the game with a walk and stole second and then went to third on a ground out by junior Jillian Serraro (Hopewell Jct, John Jay).

Cortland tied the score in the bottom of the first and the two went to the third inning still tied before Oneonta plated one run to take a 2-1 lead. It was Kendziera again who got things started with a walk, went to second on a ground out by senior Stacey Donald (Saugerties/Saugerties), and came around to score on a double to left field off the bat of Serraro.

The lead didn't last long as the hosts tied the game at 2 apiece with a single run in the bottom of the third. Cortland (12-2/2-0) broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning when they scored five runs, two of the runs being charged to starter Jessica Iuliano (Haworth, NJ, Northern Valley Regional).

Classmate Bartalsky only lasted 1/3 of an inning and was charged with two runs. Freshman Leggett finished the inning and was charged with one run. Leggett would finish the game for Oneonta, but Iuliano was charged with her first loss of the season.

In the second game, Cortland jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first two innings. Starter Leggett was charged with loss after allowing eight runs, seven earned, in falling to 1-4 on the season.

Oneonta scored its lone run of the game in the third inning when sophomore Lukas scored on a ground out by Kendziera. The Oneonta bats were held to just four hits in the game.

Men’s Lacrosse (1-1/0-1)

Apr. 2nd vs. Cortland, L 4-22
The SUNY Oneonta men’s lacrosse team fell hard to its rival Red Dragons of Cortland, who is currently ranked #4 nationally, last Saturday afternoon in its SUNYAC opener at home by the score of 22-4.

Cortland jumped out to a 2-0 lead before sophomore Mike Salerno (West Babylon, West Babylon) got Oneonta on the scoreboard scoring a man-up goal at the 5:05 mark with an assist from junior Blair Hanson (Fayetteville, Fayetteville Manlius).

The visitors then seized control of the game ripping off eight unanswered to lead 10-1 at halftime.

Freshman John Young (West Babylon, West Babylon) finally broke the string of goals in the third quarter on an unassisted goal to make the score 11-2.

Sophomore Jimmy van de Veerdonk (Putnam Valley, Putnam Valley) added an unassisted goal in the third period and freshman Patrick Tierney (Clay, Cicero-North Syracuse) scored in the fourth period to round out the scoring for Oneonta today.

Women’s Lacrosse (1-8/1-1)

Apr. 2nd at Buffalo State, L 8-14
Three players scored two goals each, but the SUNY Oneonta women’s lacrosse team lost to Buffalo State 14-8 last Saturday in the SUNYAC opener for both squads. The loss for Oneonta kept them winless on the season while.

Buffalo State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes before sophomore Caroline Tulley (Malverne, Sacred Heart Academy) got the Red Dragons on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal. The Bengals ran off three more scores to make it 6-1 before junior Rebecca Monteith (West Islip, West Islip) broke the string with an unassisted goal with less than three minutes left in the first half. Buffalo State got one more goal before the half to take a 7-2 lead into the break.

Oneonta got as close as five goals twice during the second half, but could not get any closer in the 14-8 final.

Monteith, Tulley and junior Heidi Kissinger (East Islip, East Islip) each finished the game with two goals. Freshmen Taylor O'Brien (Northport, Northport) and Casey Sarle (West Islip, West Islip) each scored one goal to round out the scoring for Oneonta.

Apr. 5th vs. Potsdam, W 12-10
In the wind, snow, and freezing temperatures, the Red Dragon women's lacrosse team came out determined and came out on top as they captured their first win of the season and in conference play defeating the Potsdam Bears 12-10 on All College Field last Tuesday.

Oneonta got the ball rolling as junior Monteith picked up the ground ball and sent it past the goalie in the 7th minute of play to put the Red Dragons on the board leading 1-0.

Just 39 seconds later, sophomore Brooke Angelo (Yorktown Heights, Yorktown) added to the lead, scoring unassisted and putting the Red Dragons on top 2-0.

Oneonta's success continued as they went on a 6-0 run with scores from sophomore Caroline Tully, Monteith, freshman O’Brein, and junior Kissinger.

Potsdam wouldn't lay down as they went on their own run scoring three straight to close the deficit to to 4-7.

Right before the half, the teams exchanged goals. Freshman Alexa Anzalone (Rocky Point, Rocky Point) added to the lead for the Red Dragons in her first goal of the season in the 28th minute of play.

Potsdam's scored as the first half came to a close with Oneonta leading 8-5.

Potsdam picked up right where they left off at the end of the first half as the Bears came back to tie the game at 10 a piece after with just over five minutes left to play.

But it was the veteran captain Monteith who rallied the team into their first win of the season as she scored twice, once in the 27th minute of play and again off a pass from senior Katie O'Connor (Lynbrook, Lynbrook) in the final seconds of the game.

Annelise Muscietta (Lindenhurst, Walter O'Connell Copiague) allowed 10 goals and recorded six saves in her first win of the season.