Score: SUNY Canton 5, Elmira College 4
Score: Elmira College 9, SUNY Canton 8
Records: Elmira (5-26, 2-13 E8), Canton (6-27, 2-13 E8)
Location: SUNY Canton Baseball Field -- Canton, N.Y.
CANTON, N.Y. -- Senior pitcher Nick Cottone '19 and junior first baseman Tommy Fogarty '20 both reached milestones in Elmira College's doubleheader at SUNY Canton, as the Soaring Eagles and Kangaroos split a pair of Empire 8 Conference games on Sunday afternoon.
The Kangaroos held off a late EC rally in the opening contest to secure a 5-4 win. The comeback couldn't be halted in the nightcap, however, as the Soaring Eagles scored five runs in the top of the ninth in a thrilling 9-8 victory.
Game One
Elmira scored all four of its runs in the final two innings and nearly erased a four-run deficit in the series opener. Trailing 3-0 in the sixth, James Delaney '22 doubled and scored on a Mason Ryan '22 sac fly. However, the 'Roos extended their lead to 5-1 on a two-out, two-run double off the bat of Brett Hoberman.
With their rally caps on in the top of the seventh, the first four Soaring Eagles reached base on a hit-by-pitch, an error, and back-to-back walks. Sam Plaugher '20 received an RBI by drawing a bases-loaded walk, which was followed by another run-scoring free pass to Delaney two batters later. Mason Ryan reduced the Canton lead to one with an RBI fielder's choice, which allowed Plaugher, representing the tying run, to advance to third. Alas, Canton reliever Zack Newman got the grounder he needed to preserve the win for the 'Roos.
Receiving the loss for EC on the mound was Cottone, who recorded his second complete game of the season. The fourth-year righty allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits while picking up nine strikeouts. Cottone began his start by logging the first six outs of the game with strikeouts. His eighth punch out of the afternoon marked the 59th of his senior campaign, breaking Elmira's previous single-season strikeout record held by Conor Bawiec '18.
Fogarty also reached a career milestone in the first game, as his hit represented the 100th of his collegiate career. The Wayne, Pennsylvania, native is the sixth player in the program's five-year history to join the 100-hit club.
Game Two
The Soaring Eagles entered the ninth inning facing an 8-4 deficit but displayed tremendous resilience and patience at the plate once again. In the ninth, Elmira batted around the lineup, posting five runs on four hits, two walks, and two hit batsmen.
Canton starting pitcher Jake Vierno was pulled after striking out Jack Thomas '22 in the first at-bat of the ninth. But his replacement, Phil Cohen, failed to record an out, as the senior reliever hit two Soaring Eagles and surrendered two base hits. The second hit he allowed came with the bases loaded, as Fogarty drove in two with a knock that trimmed the Canton advantage down to 8-6.
The next pitcher out of the bullpen, Anthony Tur, was able to get out of the inning, but not before Jack Donnelly '19 rapped an RBI single into right field and Jared Money '22 snuck a bouncing ground ball past the third baseman to plate the tying run. In his second trip to the plate in the inning, Thomas atoned for his earlier strikeout by earning a bases-loaded walk to force in the winning run.
Head Coach Corey Paluga then turned to first-year pitcher Angus Adams '22 to close the bottom of the ninth. Adams fanned the first Kangaroo he faced, then induced an infield pop-up and a fly out to Harrison Zambarano '19 in left to secure the win.
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Corey Paluga on the emotional rollercoaster of a near-comeback in game one and a successful attempt in the late game…
"The energy was great today from the team through all 16 innings. We never rolled over and battled back in both games. We were just short in game one, but on the better side in game two."
Coach Paluga on the team's fortitude in the late innings of the nightcap, although Elmira came up just short of pulling off the comeback in the first game...
"One of our best examples of overcoming adversity and not folding because of adversity. Our coaching staff is extremely proud of the resiliency by our team today."
Coach Paluga when asked about Nick Cottone's new single-season record for strikeouts...
"I'm so proud of his development as a pitcher since his freshman year, and he's earned being our No. 1 pitcher because of his drive and passion. Despite the loss, he still pitched well enough for us to win a game."
News and Notes
- With the doubleheader split on Sunday, Elmira maintained its lead over SUNY Canton in the all-time series, 7-6.
- Fogarty recorded his 100th career hit in the first game.
- Cottone established a new program single-season strikeout record by amassing his 60th strikeout in the first contest.
- Cottone also surpassed Nick Sampogna '18 (126) for second place with 127 career strikeouts.
- Delaney, Money, and Joey Florio '20 led all EC batters with a combined three hits on Sunday.
- Money's three hits and three RBIs in the nightcap are season highs for the freshman infielder.
- Kyle Tubbs '22 tossed a season-high 2.1 innings out of the bullpen in the win, his fourth consecutive scoreless appearance.
- Mason Weir '21 improved to 2-1 with the win, while Adams recorded his first collegiate save in the ninth.
Up Next
The two teams return to SUNY Canton's home diamond on Monday, April 29, for another doubleheader. The third Empire 8 game of the series will begin at 12:00 p.m. and will be followed by a non-conference tilt to complete the four-game set.