WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The SUNY Poly Baseball Team (4-6) finished their spring trip on a high note, taking a pair of high-scoring affairs off of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). The Wildcats downed the Trailblazers 10-8 and 10-7 to improve to 4-6 on the year.

GAME ONE:

The Wildcats scored early in both games. In the first, they took a 2-1 lead on a pair of scores in the bottom of the 1^st inning, which included an RBI triple by Joseph O'Rourke (Camden, N.Y. / Camden).

O'Rourke had a flawless day, finishing 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.

After striking again in the 3^rd and 4^th innings, the Wildcats held a 5-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the 5^th inning. That was due in large part to the deft pitching of Sawyer Haney (Cooperstown, N.Y. / Cooperstown). The sophomore righty scattered 6 hits over 5 innings of work, surrendering just one run in the top of the first while striking out 2.

Still, the Wildcats went back to work in the bottom of the 5^th, hanging 5 runs on the Trailblazers to take a commanding 10-1 lead. The inning included a 2-RBI single by rookie Josh Rodriguez (Syracuse, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse). The freshman finished the day 2-for-4 with a team-high 3 RBI while occupying the 2-spot in the lineup.

Giving testament to the old baseball adage that a team can never have "enough" runs, the big 5^th inning would prove crucial for the Wildcats. The Trailblazers exploded for 7 runs in the top of the 6^th inning on 7 hits. MCLA was aided by a bases-clearing 3 RBI double from third baseman Rory Slattery.

Finally, Wildcat ace Joseph Redmond (Stone Ridge, N.Y. / Rondout Valley) came in to stop the bleeding. The big righty got the last out of the 6^th inning and threw a scoreless 7^th to pick up his first save of the year, going 1 and 1/3 innings with no hits and a strikeout.

Haney picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the year, while starter Robert Jutras took the loss for MCLA. In addition to O'Rourke and Rodriguez, second baseman Ryan Kelly (Williston, N.Y. / Mineola) had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

GAME TWO:

In the nightcap, the Wildcat bats once again wasted no time. Batting first as the visiting team, SUNY Poly hung 2 runs on the board right out of the gate, as Rodriguez tripled home leadoff batter Ray Smith (Staten Island, N.Y. / Tottenville), before scoring himself on an RBI groundout by Gerald Milanes (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Santa Rosa de Lima).

The Wildcats added another 3 runs in the top of the 2^nd thanks to a 2-RBI single by Kelly, who scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.

SUNY Poly continued to add to their lead, scoring a single run in the 3^rd, and two apiece in the 5^th and 6^th innings.

Once again the Wildcats had to withstand a late push by the Trailblazers, who pushed 3 runs across in the bottom of the 7^th to pull within 3, down 10-7. It was as close as they would come, however, as once again Redmond came on to pick up the save. Redmond came on just for the final out of the game, a strikeout.

Rodriguez finished off a giant double-header by going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. In addition to his first-inning triple, the third baseman hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 6^th.

Jeff Albright (New York Mills, N.Y. / New York Mills) picked up the win for the Wildcats, going 5-strong for the win. The senior lefty pitched a veteran game, spreading 3 runs over 3 different innings while striking out 3 and walking 2.

The Wildcats are scheduled to play a home doubleheader against Mount Saint Mary on Saturday, March 21^st, however fans are advised to stay tuned to a possible schedule change due to the late winter.