PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Cortland scored twice in the top of the ninth to break a 1-1 tie in the nine-inning opener and scored the game's lone run in the top of the sixth in the seven-inning nightcap as the nationally sixth-ranked Red Dragons swept host Plattsburgh, 3-1 and 1-0, in a SUNYAC doubleheader.
Cortland (25-5, 10-2 SUNYAC) and Plattsburgh (5-14, 0-8 SUNYAC) will complete their three-game series Saturday at noon at Plattsburgh.
Cortland 3, Plattsburgh 1
Cortland started its winning rally when Nate Budge (Central Square/Paul V. Moore) hit a one-out double. Patrick Schetter (Beacon) followed with an RBI single to put the Red Dragons ahead 2-1. Matt Michalski (Buffalo/St. Francis) singled to advance Schetter to second, and Colin BeVard (Syracuse/West Genesee) hit a grounder to second. The second baseman recorded an unassisted play at second for the second out, but his wild throw after that play allowed Schetter to score.
The Red Dragons led 1-0 in the second on a Jack Massa (Shoreham/Shoreham-Wading River) leadoff double, a Budge sac bunt, and a Schetter RBI single to left. Schetter finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, Budge was 2-for-3 with a double, and Michalski ended 2-for-4.
Cortland starter Mike Harrington (Glens Falls) held the Cardinals hitless for the opening five and a third innings. Joe Deland broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out double in the bottom of the sixth - the Cardinals' lone hit in the contest. Deland moved to third on a groundout, and he stole home to tie the game at 1-1.
Harrington walked the leadoff batter Stephen Bryant in the bottom of the seventh, and a Kentaro Mori sac bunt advanced the runner to second. Jesse Winters (South Glens Falls/Saratoga Central Catholic) relieved Harrington and got out of the jam by picking off Bryant at second, followed by a strikeout.
Harrington received a no decision despite allowing only one hit and three walks in six and a third innings. He struck out six and walked three. Winters earned his first victory of the season after finishing the game with two and thirds perfect innings with two strikeouts. Plattsburgh starter Matt Fox gave up eight hits and three runs in eight and a third innings. He fanned two batters and issued one walk.
Cortland 1, Plattsburgh 0
Alex Weingarten (East Rockaway/Lynbrook) threw a five-hit shutout to improve his record to 6-1 on the season. He struck out eight batters and walked one. He outdueled the Plattsburgh combo of Patrick Bryant and Frank Finkbeiner, who combined to allow only two hits and one unearned run. Bryant went five and two thirds innings and gave up one hit, one walk and one unearned run with three strikeouts. Finkbeiner allowed one hit and two walks and fanned one over the final inning and a third.
The Red Dragons scored the game's lone run in the sixth. Pinch hitter Massa led off by being hit by a pitch and pinch runner Joe Tardif (Cutchogue/Mattituck) was bunted to second by Ralph Nuzzi (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane). Tardif tagged and took third on a Steven Figueora (Bronx/St. Raymond's) flyout. Paul Dondero (East Islip) bunted with two outs, and a dropped throw at first allowed Tardif to score.
Plattsburgh threatened against Weingarten in both the second and third innings. The Cardinals opened the second with singles by Bryant and Noah Clark. Cortland got a force out at third on an ensuing bunt. Plattsburgh pushed the runners to second and third on a Mori bunt, but Weingarten struck out the next hitter.
In the third, the hosts loaded the bases with no outs on a Mike Onufrak single, an error during an Alex Follmer sac bunt, and a Deland walk. The next hitter hit a ball back to Weingarten, who started a 1-2-3 double play, and a strikeout ended the inning.
Cortland's two hits in the game were a Figueroa infield single to lead off the fourth and a Matthew Personius (Binghamton/Chenango Valley) single in the seventh.