MARCY, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly Wildcats got off to a rough start in their first North Eastern Athletic Conference games of the season. In game one of the doubleheader on Wednesday the Wildcats got down big early and could not dig themselves out. Game two was a different story as a fantastic pitching performance led the Wildcats to a split in the doubleheader. The Wildcats are now 4-13 with a 1-1 record in NEAC play.

GAME ONE:

The Wildcats got down big early in game one of the doubleheader. Cazenovia scored four runs in the top of the first inning to take the early lead and added four more runs in the top of the fourth to stretch the lead to eight. The fifth and sixth innings were no better for SUNY Poly as Cazenovia scored three runs and four runs respectively. The Wildcats of were able to score five runs in the game but it was too, little too late as Cazenovia's lead was too large to overcome.

NOTABLES:

• Dean Natalizio (Greenville, N.Y.) went 2-4 with two RBIs in the game for the Wildcats. Both of his hits were doubles.

• Sebastian Panuto (New Paltz, N.Y.) went two-for-four in the game with an RBI single.

• Jeremiah Horton (Broadalbin, N.Y.) was on the losing end of the decision for SUNY Poly. He only allowed one earned run in the game and had one strikeout in four innings.

• Jake Montrose (Whitesboro, N.Y.) picked up a pair of hits in the game.

• Ryan Cooper earned the win on the mound for Cazenovia. He threw five innings, allowed three earned runs, and struck out four to earn his second win of the season.

• Colin Pickert had a game-high four RBIs for Cazenovia. He went 2-3 and scored a run in the game

• David Gabrielson went 1-4 and had three RBIs for Caz.

• Dan Freese went 2-3 with a big home run in the fourth inning. He drove in three runs in the game for Cazenovia.

GAME TWO:

In game two the Wildcats bounced back from an early 2-0 deficit to take a slim lead into the later innings. After Cazenovia scored two runs in the top of the third the Wildcats cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth on a Jake Montrose RBI single. In the bottom of the sixth inning, a pair of errors and another RBI single by Jake Montrose gave the Wildcats a 4-2 lead. The two-run lead was all that starter Jake LaFerriere (Troy, N.Y.) needed as he finished out the complete game win for the Wildcats.

NOTABLES:

• Jake LaFerriere pitched a great game for SUNY Poly. He threw a complete game allowing two earned runs. He struck out eight batters and walked two. The win is his first of the 2019 season.

• Jake Montrose had another big game for the Wildcats. He went 2-4 and had two RBIs.

• Noah Vanderbeck (Saugerties, N.Y.) had a pair of hits in the game including a double. He also scored a run

• Michael Losco (North Babylon, N.Y.) scored two runs for the Wildcats. He also had a hit and an RBI.

• Jake Blanchi was the losing pitcher for Cazenovia. He threw six and 1/3 innings, allowed one earned run, and struck out two. He is now 0-2 this season.

• Collin Pickert had another multi-hit game for Cazenovia. He went 2-4, drove in a run, and scored a run.

• Zach Alpern also had a multi-hit game. He went 2-3 with an RBI.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will host a three-game series this weekend against the Wells College Express. The North Eastern Athletic Conference series will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6th. The first game is scheduled for a 1:00 PM start on Saturday. The third game of the series is scheduled for a 12:00 PM start on Sunday, April 7th. All three games will take place at SUNY Poly's Peter A. Spina Field.

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany location 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, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica/Rome location. 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 over 300 corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.