SALISBURY, MD. – Junior Brandon McClain (Coram/Longwood) pitched six innings of three-hit shutout ball as nationally 10th-ranked Cortland defeated 13th-ranked Salsibury University, 4-1, to earn a weekend series split with the Sea Gulls.
Cortland's defense turned four double plays, including a game-ending 6-4-3 twin killing with the potential tying run at the plate. Cortland recorded four double plays for the first time since an NCAA regional game versus Centenary (N.J.) in 2005 and its first game with four double plays on grounders since an NCAA regional-clinching win over RPI in 1998.
McClain struck out eight batters and walked none as he improved to 2-0 on the season. Senior Mark Palumbo (Morristown, NJ) gave up just one hit and one walk in two scoreless innings of relief. Junior Vinny Bomasuto (Dunkirk) pitched the ninth and allowed two hits, a hit batsman and one run before getting out of the jam.
Salisbury starter Dylan Anderson gave up just three hits and two walks and struck out seven over six innings. He permitted only one baserunner over the first four innings on a Chris Jackson (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) two-out single in the first. In the fifth, however, he walked Donny Castaldo (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) with one out and Max Rosing (Rockville Centre/South Side) followed with an RBI double to center. Rosing stole third with two outs and scored on Tim Panetta's (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) single to left.
The Red Dragons (3-1) added a run in the seventh without recording a hit. P.J. Rinaldi (Bethel, CT) walked and was forced out on a fielder's choice grounder by Michael DeCarr (Syracuse/Westhill). After DeCarr moved to second on a passed ball, Castaldo walked. With two outs, pinch-hitter Bryan Marotta (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) reached on an error by the first baseman to score DeCarr.
Cortland closed its scoring in the ninth. Keith Andrews (Commack) singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Mitch Hollander (Woodbury/Syosset) RBI double to right center.
Salisbury (3-1) opened the bottom of the ninth with a Kyle Hyman double and a Pete Grasso single to put runners on first and third with no outs. Bobby Sanzone hit a grounder to short that resulted in a force out at second while driving in Hyman. Jordan Gowe was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second before the game-ending double play.
The Sea Gulls had only one runner reach second base over the first eight innings. Johnny Schiotis reached on a one-out infield single and moved to second on a groundout, but McClain struck out the next hitter to end the inning.
Cortland will travel to Newport News, Va., for three games next Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2. The Red Dragons will play both Montclair State and host Christopher Newport on Saturday and will face CNU again on Sunday.