LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – P.J. Rinaldi's (Bethel, CT) RBI single capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth as nationally fourth-ranked Cortland fought back to defeat Plattsburgh, 5-4, in a makeup game played at Siena College. Cortland improved to 21-6 overall and 9-1 in the SUNYAC with the victory.
Cortland will host Oswego on Monday, April 14, at 1 p.m. in a league doubleheader. The games have been moved from Tuesday to Monday due to anticipated poor weather Tuesday.
Cortland trailed 4-2 when Nick Hart (Fredonia) reached on an error to open the ninth. Donny Castaldo (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) singled to center, and Mark DeMilio (Valhalla), despite having two strikes on him, successfully sacrificed the runners to second and third.
Anthony Iacomini (South Salem/John Jay-Cross River) followed with a two-run single to right center to tie the game. After Iacomini took second on a wild pitch, Plattsburgh intentionally walked Max Rosing (Rockville Centre/South Side) and Rinaldi hit a single through the right side to score Iacomini with the winning run.
Cortland did not lead until Rinaldi's game winner. Plattsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the third on a Jeremy Rodriguez steal of home on a two-out, first-and-third play. The Red Dragons tied the game in the fourth when Rinaldi led off with a single, was bunted to second by Conrad Ziemendorf (Penfield/Webster Schroeder) and scored on a Vinny Bomasuto (Dunkirk) double to left.
The Cardinals (9-17, 4-8 SUNYAC) took the lead again in the fifth on a Frank Buksa leadoff double, a Rodriguez sacrifice and a Jonathan Repetto squeeze bunt. Cortland answered in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. Rosing led off with a double, moved to third on a Rinaldi sacrifice and scored two batters later on Bomasuto's sacrifice fly liner to center.
Cortland starter Mark Palumbo (Morristown, NJ) allowed three hits and two walks over the first seven innings, and retired the first two batters in the top of the eighth before issuing a walk. Bomasuto, who started as the designated hitter, took over on the mound and walked Yuya Osawa. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third and Chris Pescetti hit a two-run single to left to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.
Bomasuto, who retired the side in order in the top of the ninth, earned the win and is now 2-0 on the season. Mike Vargues went the distance for Plattsburgh and allowed 10 hits and four walks in eight and a third innings. He struck out two.
Castaldo finished 3-for-5, Rinaldi was 2-for-3 with a walk and Bomasuto went 2-for-3 with two RBI for Cortland. Brian Latulipe and Osawa were each 1-for-3 with a walk for the Cardinals.