CORTLAND, N.Y. – Senior Aaron Schuldt (Liverpool) allowed four hits, three walks and one unearned run and struck out eight in eight innings and junior Andrew Pezzuto (Hastings) went 4-for-5 with a homer and two RBI as top-seeded and nationally fifth-ranked Cortland defeated Plattsburgh, 8-2, in the opening game of the SUNYAC Baseball Tournament.

Cortland (33-7-1) will face second-seeded Brockport in the winner's bracket of the four-team, double-elimination tournament Saturday at 1 p.m. Brockport defeated Oneonta, 4-3, in Friday's other first-round game. Oneonta will play Plattsburgh in an elimination game Saturday at 10 a.m., and that winner will play another elimination game Saturday at 4 p.m.

Cortland scored two runs in each of the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead. In the first, Matt June (Colonie) led off with a double, Pezzuto reached on a bunt single and John Adornetto (Commack) walked to load the bases. June scored on a wild pitch and Pezzuto scored on a one-out Brian Barry (Smithtown/Smithtown East) RBI groundout.

The Red Dragons scored its second-inning runs on a June sacrifice fly and a balk, while the third inning featured a Tim Panetta (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) RBI groundout and a Bryan Mistretta (Commack) RBI single.

Plattsburgh scored an unearned run in the eighth. Damian Tyler singled with two outs and Kris Cauchon reached on an error. Pat Shaughnessy walked to load the bases and Greg Larnerd's infield single drove in Tyler.

In the bottom of the eighth, June doubled with two outs and Pezzuto hit a two-run homer to left center. Plattsburgh's Mike Varques added an RBI single in the ninth to finish the scoring.

Schuldt, now 7-1, escaped trouble in the first when Plattsburgh grounded into a double play with runners on first and third and one out.

June finished 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and a sacrifice fly. Barry and Mistretta were each 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tyler was Plattsburgh's lone player with multiple hits as he finished 2-for-5. June finished 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and a sacrifice fly. Barry and Mistretta were each 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tyler was Plattsburgh's lone player with multiple hits as he finished 2-for-5. Kyle Kelly started for the Cardinals and gave up six runs, four earned, in three innings. Dan Tracy pitched the final five innings and allowed six hits, a walk and two runs.