CORTLANDVILLE, N.Y. — Keuka College and SUNY Poly were originally scheduled to face each other four times this weekend, but the weather had different plans as the two teams got only one of their four scheduled baseball games in.

SUNY Poly defeated Keuka College (0-5) in extra-innings on Saturday at Gutchess Lumber Athletic Complex in Cortlandville.

Derek Novicki (North Haven, Conn. / North Haven) had a big day at the plate for the Wolves. The sophomore tripled and homered while driving in four runs and adding a pair of runs scored. Carlos Fantauzzi (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy) added a double and triple in the loss.

SUNY Poly 9 vs. Keuka College 8 – 8 innings

The Wolves struck first in the second inning. With two outs, Donald Nemeth (Guilderland, N.Y. / Guilderland) was hit by the pitch. He quickly scored as Derek Novicki singled to center, giving Keuka a 1-0 lead.

SUNY Poly tried to answer in the bottom of the inning. The Wildcats got a leadoff walk but starting pitcher Jesse Capitano (Depew, N.Y. / Depew) got a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

Keuka College extended their lead in the fourth. With two outs, Nemeth doubled and Novicki was hit by the pitch. Another Keuka batter was hit to load the bases with two outs. Ian Ruhmel (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) and Kyle Wood (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) both worked bases-loaded walks to push the Keuka College lead to 3-0.

Four straight walks forced in a run for SUNY Poly to start the bottom of the fourth. Damage could have been worse, however, Keuka College was able to get a triple play when Mike Dutch (Manlius, N.Y. / Fayetteville-Manlius) stepped on third for a force-out, threw across to Novicki for the force out at first, and then they got the runner from second attempting to score for the third out to end the inning with Keuka remaining ahead 3-2.

The Green and Gold took that momentum into the fifth as they put a pair of runners on to start the inning. Poly got a pair of outs, but Derek Novicki hit his first career home run to score three and give the Wolves a 6-2 advantage.

SUNY Poly answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a one-run game. They then took the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth.

Trailing by one going into the final inning, Carlos Fantauzzi led off the inning with a double. He then moved to third on a single by RJ Murphy (Syracuse, N.Y. / West Genesee). Fantauzzi attempted to score on a ground ball by Donald Nemeth but was thrown out at the plate. Novicki was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs. Mike Dutch then worked a walk to force in a run to tie the game at 7-7.

Ethan Tillotson (Pavilion, N.Y. / Pavilion) worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning to send the game to extra innings.

Kyle Wood led off the eighth by reaching on an error. He moved to second on a bunt and scored on a triple by Carlos Fantauzzi. However, the Wolves would be limited there and a pair of strikeouts would strand Fantauzzi on third base.

The game was quickly tied in the bottom of the eighth as SUNY Poly got a pinch-hit solo home run to make it 8-8. A walk and passed ball then moved the runner to second. He scored on an error to end the game with SUNY Poly defeating the Wolves 9-8 in eight innings.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College is now 14-17 all-time against SUNY Poly
• The last two times Keuka College has played in extra innings have been against SUNY Poly. The Wolves lost to the Wildcats in eight innings in Florida last season
• Overall, Keuka is 21-17-2 in extra-inning games but has only won one of their last six
• Novicki finished 2-2 at the plate, adding a walk and hit by pitch to his line. The seven total bases with the triple and home run set a new career-high
• RJ Murphy joined Novicki and Fantauzzi with a two-hit game. Murphy added a pair of stolen bases in the game
• Jesse Capitano struck out six batters in his three innings of work

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will now leave the weather of New York and replace it with the weather of Florida. Keuka College will next play on their spring trip down south. The Wolves will face Knox College next Sunday, March 17 for a single game in Florida.