ITHACA, N.Y. – Sophomore Brandon McClain (Coram/Longwood) allowed one run over eight innings and junior P.J. Rinaldi (Bethel, CT) hit a grand slam as nationally third-ranked Cortland opened its SUNYAC schedule with an 8-1 win over New Paltz at Cornell University's Hoy Field.
The teams will play a doubleheader at Cornell Sunday starting at 11 a.m. The teams' three-game set was originally scheduled to be played at New Paltz, but was moved to Cornell's turf field due to the weather.
McClain improved to 2-0 with the victory. He struck out five, walked one and allowed seven hits before being relieved to start the ninth. New Paltz starter Andrew Grann gave up seven hits, three walks and eight runs in seven innings. He struck out four. Grann allowed only two hits and a run over the first five innings before giving up three runs in the sixth and four runs in the seventh.
Cortland (11-4, 1-0 SUNYAC) took a 1-0 lead in the third when Bryan Mistretta (Commack) was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored on Zack Graczyk's (Carmel) RBI double down the left field line. New Paltz (3-8, 0-1 SUNYAC) tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Matt Prescia led off with a single, took second on a one-out groundout and scored on Kenny Gentile's RBI single to right. The Hawks added two more singles to load the bases, but McClain escaped the jam with a flyout to center.
The Red Dragons answered in their next at-bat with three runs. Graczyk was hit by a pitch and John Adornetto (Commack) drew a one-out walk. Rinaldi walked to load the bases and Max Rosing (Rockville Centre/South Side) hit a two-run single to left. Chris Jackson (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) followed with an RBI single through the right side.
In the seventh, Anthony Iacomini (South Salem/John Jay-Cross River) and Mistretta led off the inning with singles and were bunted to second and third by Graczyk. With two outs, Adornetto was intentionally walked after working a 3-0 count and Rinaldi blasted a ball over the left field fence to put the Red Dragons up 8-1.