MARCY, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Baseball Team (12-12, 7-4 NEAC) won its series with the Lancaster Bible College Chargers (9-16, 4-10 NEAC) via a split on Saturday, falling in the first game 7-4 before rebounding for a 7-1 win in the nightcap.
Ryan Dungey (Vernon, N.Y. / VVS) had a terrific day for the Wildcats, going 5-for-8 at the plate with 2 RBI's and picking up the win on the mound for SUNYIT in the second game with a 6-inning, 9-strikeout performance.
GAME ONE:
Jeff Albright (New York Mills, N.Y. / New York Mills) got the start for SUNYIT in the first game. He loaded the count on the first batter of the game before coming up with a nice inside fastball for a called third strike. Albright then induced a flyball before striking out the always-dangerous Matt Taliercio on a beautiful 2-2 change-up to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning Kevin Rowlands (New York Mills, N.Y. / Notre Dame) ripped a double to right-center with 2 outs and nobody on, but SUNYIT was unable to capitalize.
The trouble started in the top of the second, with the Chargers putting the first two batters of the inning on base with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Despite the inauspicious start, later in the inning the Wildcats found themselves with 2 outs and having surrendered just one run. Three-straight RBI singles by the 1-2-3 hitters, however, broke the game open. All told the Chargers would go on to post 5 runs in the frame.
Duke Schneider (Clinton, N.Y. / Clinton) relieved Albright in the fourth inning and threw 2 and 2/3 of scoreless and hitless ball before Paul Wozniak (Hamlin, N.Y. / Brockport) took the ball in the 7th. The reliever Wozniak, who had been perfect in three previous appearances totaling four innings, surrendered his first run and hit of the season, but got out of the 7th without too much trouble otherwise.
Down 7-0 going into the bottom of the 7th, the Wildcats took advantage of a suddenly-wild Nate Burns, rallying for four runs – all of which came with 2 outs – in the bottom of the fourth before lefty Gabe Yoder entered the game and induced a pop-up to end the game.
Burns pitched a solid game up until the 7th to earn his first win of the year, going 6 and 2/3 innings while giving up no earned runs.
For the Wildcats in defeat, the 2-3-4 hitters did most of the team's damage, with Dungey going 2-for-4 with a run scored, Rowlands going 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Joseph O'Rourke (Camden, N.Y. / Camden) going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
GAME TWO:
After playing an entire game in center field, game two Wildcat hurler Ryan Dungey showed no signs of fatigue on the hill to start a crucial second game for SUNYIT. Dungey had a tight curve and some pop on his fastball from the get-go, dispatching the Chargers in order to start the game.
Both teams remained scoreless through three innings, with each exhibiting some good defense. The Wildcat's took the form of Dungey, who recorded strikeouts for all three outs in the top of the third inning, giving him 6 K's through the first three innings.
For the Chargers it was an outstanding catch by the centerfielder – known more for his bat usually than his glove – Taliercio. The 6-foot outfielder – on a dead sprint – laid out full-extension to take away what would have been a bloop single for game two starting shortstop Ryan Wegner (Rochester, N.Y. / Brockport).
Wegner, however, would have his revenge in the bottom of the fourth. After a big two-out base hit by third baseman Dante Rose (Utica, N.Y. / Notre Dame) put the first run of the game on the board, Wegner broke things open with a beautiful double down the right field line. The righty-hitting shortstop went with the pitch the other way for a perfect tailing line drive that just about hit the right-field chalk. The ball rolled under the tarp in foul territory, a tough break for the Wildcats as it resulted in a ground-rule double, forcing Rose to stop at third base. One pitch later the point was moot, as Jim Sass (Kingston, N.Y. / Kingston) ripped a single through the hole on game two Charger starter Micah McClay's first offering, scoring Rose and moving Wegner to third. Wegner would score on a wild pitch, allowing Sass to move up to second base. The error proved costly, as Dungey then worked the count before lining a base hit up the middle.
When the dust settled, the Wildcats had strung together five straight base hits, knocking McClay out of the game and resulting in a 5-run fourth inning.
From there it was all Dungey. The senior ran into a bit of trouble in the 6th, allowing a pair of runners, but was able to induce a groundball to short to end the inning. Dungey's line for the game included 9 strikeouts, 1 run, and just 3 hits while scattering 5 walks.
Cody Crego (Holland Patent, N.Y. / Holland Patent) closed the game out in the 7th for the Wildcats, dispensing with the Chargers in order 1-2-3 to preserve a 7-1 victory for the Wildcats.
In addition to Dungey, the bottom of the lineup came up big for SUNYIT in game two, with the 6-9 hitters going a combined 5-for-11, with each scoring at least one run. Chief among this group was Wegner, who finished the game with 2 doubles, an RBI, and 2 runs scored while playing a solid game at short (the sophomore's lone error came early in the game on a vicious hop).
After playing three-days-in-a-row, SUNYIT will get some much needed rest before traveling to Cazenovia on Wednesday, April 23rd. The NEAC doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2 pm.
