AURORA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly baseball team took two games from Wells College on Wednesday in their first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) games of the season. Both games were come-from-behind wins for the Wildcats and both were clinched in thrilling fashion. The first on a go-ahead homerun and the second on back-to-back triples.
GAME 1:
The Wildcats took game number one from the Express to earn their first NEAC win of the season. The Wildcats had four runs on six hits, the Express scored two runs on six hits. The Wildcats got a great pitching performance from their starter, John Noone (Staten Island, N.Y.) who improved to 3-2 on the year.
TURNING POINT:
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats needed to put some runs on the board. After a walk and a stolen base by Josh Rodriguez (North Syracuse, N.Y.), junior Dalton Earl (Woodhull, N.Y.) stepped to the plate and answered the bell hitting a two-run home run to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs. The Wildcats would add a run in the top of the seventh as insurance, allowing John Noone to close out the game. The final score was 4-2.
STAT POINTS:
- John Noone threw a complete game for the Wildcats and earned his third win of the season. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out four.
- Josh Rodriguez went 1-2 with a single, a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a run scored in the leadoff spot.
- Dalton Earl went 1-4 with a homerun and two RBIs.
- Nate Palmer (Marcy, N.Y.) went 1-3 with a triple.
- Connor Manderson (New Hartford, N.Y.) drove in the first run of the game in the top of the first on a single to center field. He went 1-4.
- Michael Losco (North Babylon, N.Y.) drove in the insurance run for the Wildcats in the top of the seventh. He finished the game 1-1.
- Justin Forster went 2-3 for the Express with a triple and a stolen base.
- Brandon Shirley was the losing pitcher in the game. He went six innings for the Express striking out nine and allowing three earned runs.
GAME 2:
In game two the Express took a one-run lead in to the eighth inning, forcing the Wildcats to make another comeback. The Wildcats stepped up, scoring two runs in the eighth inning to take a 4-3 lead which ultimately won them the game.
TURNING POINT:
In the top of the eighth inning, trailing by a run SUNY Poly's Josh Rodriguez hit a leadoff single to start what would be an exciting go-ahead inning. Matt Fippinger (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) drove in Rodriguez with a triple to right field to tie the game. Connor Manderson followed up Fippinger's triple with one of his own to drive in the Wildcat left fielder taking the 4-3 lead.
STAT POINTS:
- Connor Manderson had a big game for the Wildcats. The senior went 3-4 with a triple and an RBI. His season batting average stands at .324 this season and he now had seven RBIs.
- Matt Fippinger went 1-3 with a triple and an RBI. He also scored a run and drew a walk in the game.
- Jeremiah Horton (Broadalbin, N.Y.) started on the mound for the Wildcats and earned a no-decision. He threw five and two thirds innings allowing three runs on three hits and striking out six batters.
- Brett Flint (Amsterdam, N.Y.) would throw the final three innings of the game to earn his first inning of the season. He allowed just two hits and struck out two.
- Kevin Spaeth went 2-3 with two singles for the Express. He drove in all three of the runs for his team.
- Derek Shea was tagged with the loss after allowing two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. He struck out four batters and walked two.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will return to action this weekend when they travel to Pennsylvania for four games. The Wildcats will face Penn State Berks on Saturday at 1:00 and 3:00 PM before heading to Abington on Sunday for two games against Penn State Abington at 12:00 and 2:00 PM. Check the Wildcats schedule for any live coverage available for the games.