CORTLAND, N.Y. – Junior Bryan Mistretta (Commack) singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as nationally seventh-ranked Cortland defeated visiting New Paltz, 3-2, in the nin-inning opening game of a SUNYAC doubleheader. Mistretta also homered in the second game as the Red Dragons completed the sweep with a 2-0 win over the Hawks in the seven-inning nightcap. Cortland and New Paltz will play a single game Sunday at noon in Cortland.
With the victories, Cortland improved to 30-7-1 overall and 15-2 in SUNYAC play. The Red Dragons reached the 30-win mark for the eighth straight season and the 18th time in the last 19 years.
GAME 1: Cortland 3, New Paltz 2 (10 inn.)
Cortland trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the seventh, but scored single runs in the seventh and eighth to tie the score. The Red Dragons won it in the bottom of the 10th when sophomore Adam Smith (Vestal) singled with two outs, stole second and scored on Mistretta's single to left.
Smith also started the Red Dragons' rally in the seventh with a leadoff double. He took third on a groundout and scored on a Matt June (Colonie) RBI single. With one out and the bases loaded, Michael LaTempa (LaGrangeville/Arlington) hit a line drive to center. New Paltz center fielder Matt Carr caught the liner, then made a perfect throw home to retire June tagging from third to end the inning.
In the eighth, Andrew Pezzuto (Hastings) led off with a single and was bunted to second by Kyle Barkley (Penn Yan). Tim Panetta (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) then singled to right, but Pezzuto held at second fearing the ball would be caught. Smith walked to load the bases and Mistretta hit a foul pop-up behind first base. New Paltz's second baseman made the catch running away from the infield, and Pezzuto was able to tag up and score to tie the game.
New Paltz led 1-0 in the second. Jake Cameron doubled and went to third on a balk. David Lostaglio was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Lostaglio was then picked off first. He got into a rundown and avoided being tagged out until just seconds after Cameron crossed home plate to score.
In the seventh, Steven Morse walked and took second on a wild pitch. With one out, Matt Prescia hit a chopper for an infield single to second, and a throwing error on the play allowed Morse to score.
Cortland finished the game with 16 hits, but left 13 runners on base in addition to having two runners thrown out at the plate. Brian Barry (Smithtown/Smithtown East) went 3-for-4, John Adornetto (Commack) went 2-for-3 with a walk, Smith was 2-for-4 with a double and walk and Pezzuto was 2-for-4 with a walk. June and Panetta were each 2-for-5.
Senior Aaron Schuldt (Liverpool) started for the Red Dragons and pitched the first nine innings. He gave up seven hits and one walk and struck out nine. Senior Tom Nagy (Greenville/Minisink Valley) earned the win after pitching a scoreless 10th inning. He gave up two hits and struck out two.
New Paltz starter Andrew Grann allowed 13 hits but only two runs in seven and a third innings. he walked three and struck out two. Nick Monaco pitched the final two and a third innings and was tagged for three hits and one run. He fanned three. Prescia finished 3-for-4, Anthony Repetto was 2-for-4 and Thomas Pinnola ended 2-for-5 for the Hawks.
GAME 2: Cortland 2, New Paltz 0
Junior Ray Angelucci (Commack) pitched a three-hit shutout for the victory and is now 9-1 on the season. He walked three and struck out five over seven innings and has allowed only a combined five base hits in his last 20 innings spanning three starts.
Angelucci outdueled New Paltz starter Chris Chismar, who gave up six hits and two runs in six innings. He struck out six and walked two.
Cortland scored a run in the first when Adornetto walked with two outs, stole second and scored on a LaTempa double to right center. The Red Dragons' other run came on Mistretta's two-out solo homer – his first collegiate round-tripper – in the second.
New Paltz's best scoring chance came in the top of the second. Cameron reached on an error and Prescia singled to start the inning. Angelucci got the next two hitters to foul out, but Chris Paulicelli drew a walk to load the bases. Repetto then hit a ball up the middle, but Angelucci was able to stab the ball and throw to first to end the inning.
LaTempa went 2-for-2 with his RBI double and P.J. Rinaldi (Bethel, CT) was 2-for-3 for the Red Dragons. Prescia finished 3-for-3 to record all of the hits for New Paltz (18-20, 5-12 SUNYAC).