AURORA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly baseball team opened their season on Saturday with a tough 5-4 loss in extra innings against Wells College in Aurora, NY.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SUNY Poly started the game strong with a run in the top of the third inning, thanks to a Ryan Pelton RBI single that drove home James Lynch. The Wildcats held the lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when Wells tied the game with an RBI single by Lance Phillips.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh inning when an error allowed Max Odum to score after a stolen base, giving the Express a 2-1 lead.
SUNY Poly refused to go down quietly and mounted a comeback in the top of the eighth inning. Christopher Martin drove home two runs on an RBI single to take back a one-run lead. James Lynch extended the Wildcat's lead to two runs in that same inning with an RBI single that drove home Martin.
Wells tied the game back up in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double and a wild pitch to knot the game at four. The game would need to go to extras to determine a winner.
In the bottom of the 10th, Wells was able to get a few runners on base thanks to a hit-by-pitch and a single. With runners on first and second, Chris McClean hit a dribbler up the middle that was just barely out of range for James Lynch who had to dive to try to make a play. It didn't break the Wildcat's way, and Wells earned the 5-4 extra-inning win.
Connor Carr-Matthews earned the win for Wells. He threw 1/3 of an inning in relief.
Josh Slater was on the losing end of the decision after allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the 10th.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
- Christopher Martin had an impressive game with 3 hits, including two doubles and a triple He drove in two runs.
- Poly's James Lynch had a solid performance with two hits and an RBI, while also stealing a base.
- Alexander Bonacci had a triple and went 3-5 in the game.
- Aaron Izquierdo, the catcher for Wells, had a great game at the plate with three hits, including a triple, and a walk.
- Well's third baseman Lance Phillips had a strong game with three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI.
- Max Odum had a solid performance with a hit, an RBI, and two stolen bases for Wells
- Aaron Kifer started and pitched six innings for SUNY Poly. He allowed just one earned run on eight hits with a strikeout.
- Jack Montanye pitched 1.2 innings in relief in his Wildcat debut. He struck out four of the six batters that he faced.
- Austin Jordan started on the mound for the Express. He threw seven innings and allowed no earned runs with four strikeouts.
- Zach Cronk threw 1.2 innings in relief for Wells. He did not allow a run.
UP NEXT:
SUNY Poly will look to bounce back tomorrow when they face off against Wells College in a single nine-inning game in Aurora. The game is scheduled for a 4:00 PM first pitch.
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SUNY Poly is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, game design, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world's most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.