LEXINGTON, S.C. - The nationally 10th-ranked Cortland baseball team scored seven unearned runs in the first inning, capped by a Paul Dondero (East Islip) three-run homer, and the Red Dragons defeated Trinity College (Conn.), 16-1, at Case Western Reserve's Spartan Southern Classic.
 
Cortland (6-5) put the game away with six runs in the bottom of the fifth after Trinity (0-2) scored its only run in the top half of the inning. After three consecutive walks to open the fifth, Wyatt Myers (Chittenango) hit a ground-rule double to left to score two and the Red Dragons tacked on four more aided by two run-scoring hit by pitches and an infield error.  
 
Cortland had 11 hits in total coming from 10 different hitters. Justin Teague (North Syracuse/Cicero-North Syracuse) was the only player to have multiple hits as he reached base in all three of his plate appearances and finished 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Garrett Heaton (East Patchogue/Bellport) and Matthew Personius (Binghamton/Chenango Valley) each scored two runs in their three plate appearances.
 
Patrick Schetter (Beacon) reached base in both of his plate appearances, and his single in the second inning extended his hit streak to 22 games, which ties him for fifth all-time in Cortland history.
 
Jake Casey (Homer) started and earned the win for the Red Dragons despite pitching only three and two thirds innings. He was removed after inducing a ground ball double play at 62 pitches and qualified for the win because of a predetermined rotation situation. Casey allowed just one hit, struck out four and walked four. Matt Valin (LaFargeville), one of four Cortland relievers, struck out three and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.
 
Alex Shafer started for Trinity and pitched three innings. He allowed eight runs, although they were all unearned. He surrendered seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
Geoffrey Stillman drove in Trinity's lone run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly scoring Eric Thronson, who led off the inning by reaching on an error.
 
Cortland will play Rochester on Wednesday at 6 p.m. before rounding out the South Carolina trip with a three-game SUNYAC series against Brockport Friday and Saturday.

(Recap written by Sports Information Student Intern Kyle Lancto)