DAVENPORT, Fla. - The SUNY Poly baseball team split with Keuka on Friday on their last day of the 2023 RussMatt Invitational Tournament. It was an exciting two games between the two upstate NY teams. The Wildcats won the first game 4-3 in walk-off fashion in extra innings. Keuka won the second game, taking a late lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Wildcats are now 4-7 this season.  

GAME 1:

KEUKA – 3

SUNY Poly – 4

WP: Ryan Waring (1-0)

LP: Spencer Brown (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

SUNY Poly scored the opening run in the bottom of the first inning on a fielder's choice that brought home Alexander Bonacci. Keuka scored the equalizer in the third inning on an RBI single to right field by Samuel O'Neil that scored Tyler Lewandoi.

SUNY Poly took the lead back in the fifth inning when Derek Baur drove in Don Vento with an RBI single to center field.

Keuka managed to take back the lead in the sixth inning with an RBI double by RJ Murphy and a bases-loaded walk. SUNY Poly's Ryan Pelton promptly tied the game back up in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single that brought home Ethan Merone.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth when an error by Keuka allowed Ryan Pelton to score the extra-inning walk-off run for the Wildcats.

Salvatore Mecca started on the mound for SUNY Poly, giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings. Ryan Waring pitched three scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Keuka's Anthony Laurinitis went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts, while Spencer Brown took the loss for the team.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Ethan Merone went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI for SUNY Poly.
• Poly's Ryan Pelton went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Derek Baur went 1-for-3 with an RBI for the Wildcats.
• SUNY Poly's Alexander Bonacci went 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and a stolen base.
• Keuka's Tyler Lewandowski went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
• Keuka's RJ Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

GAME 2:

SUNY Poly - 4

Keuka - 5

WP: Kole Schmerder (1-0)

LP: Daniel DeBruin (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

RJ Murphy and Josh Tryon gave Keuka an early lead. Murphy drove in a run with a single in the first. Tyron had a 2RBI double in the second.

SUNY Poly responded with a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Alexander Bonacci, but Keuka answered in the bottom of the frame, scoring on a wild pitch.

The Wildcats showed some grit in the top of the sixth, tying the game with three runs on a James Lynch RBI single, a throwing error that allowed Don Vento to score, and an RBI ground out by Zackary Morrison.

Keuka quickly regained the lead in the bottom half of the sixth thanks to Derek Novicki's bases-loaded walk, making it a 5-4 game.

Kole Schmerder struck out two and allowed no hits for Keuka to earn his first win of the season.

Daniel DeBruin (0-1) took the loss for the Wildcats, giving up one run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Keuka's Jared Beckley went 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out six.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• SUNY Poly's Ethan Merone had a solid performance going 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk.
• Don Vento had a hit and a walk in three plate appearances and scored a run for the Wildcats.
• Poly's Manuel Santiago had a hit and a walk in three plate appearances and stole a base.
• Alexander Bonacci had two hits in four at-bats, including an RBI single in the fifth inning for SUNY Poly.
• James Lynch had a hit and an RBI in three plate appearances for Poly.
• Josh Tryon was a standout performer for Keuka, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
• RJ Murphy also had a solid game for Keuka, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will travel to SUNY OCC on Monday to take on the Lazers in non-conference play. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for a 12:00 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.