BASE: Wildcats Drop Both Games on Day 3 of "RussMatt Invitational"
Davenport, F.L. – The SUNY Poly men's baseball team fell in both games of their Day 3 doubleheader at the "RussMatt Invitational" in Florida. In game one, the Wildcats were defeated by the Bethany Bisons 12-7. In game two, a hard-fought 6-3 loss to the Delaware Valley Aggies dropped their season record to 1-7.
GAME ONE VS BETHANY:
Bethany got an unorthodox start when shortstop Sonny Peluchette reached base on a fielding error, stole third, and scored on a throwing error by SUNY Poly's catcher, giving the Bisons an early 1-0 lead. The Wildcats quickly responded, with Luke Landis driving in an RBI single to even the score at 1-1.
In the second inning, the Bisons took a 2-1 lead thanks to a sacrifice fly by Niko Heidt. Meanwhile, SUNY Poly struggled offensively, going scoreless in a mistake-filled inning.
Bethany built a 4-1 advantage in the third. Jaden Nestor-Fox doubled and scored on a Derek Black single, but the Wildcats responded with a three-run homer by Landis to tie the game at 4-4.
The Bisons regained the lead in the fourth, as Heidt's double and Peluchette's single set the stage for an RBI single by Nestor-Fox. SUNY Poly had multiple opportunities to answer in the fourth and fifth but stranded runners both times without scoring.
Bethany stretched their lead to 8-5 in the seventh inning, with a sac fly from Riley Brendel, an RBI double from Payton Zupko, and an unearned run from Heidt. They added another run in the eighth, making it 9-5.
The Wildcats made a final push in the ninth, with a double from Skylar Unebasami and a strong showing from Connor Williams, but only managed to drive in one more run from Landis. The Bisons held on for a 12-7 win.
GAME TWO VS DELAWARE VALLEY:
SUNY Poly threatened in the first, with Tristan Allen tripling with one out, but they couldn't capitalize. Delaware Valley struck early in the bottom of the inning, with Patrick Higgins and Liam Martin both singling and Nate Ludwick driving in a run with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats couldn't respond in the second, despite singles from Will Orlando and Masaki Brey. Delaware Valley added to their lead in the fourth, with Braedyn Kormanic doubling and Daniel Murphy driving him in with an RBI double.
A three-run homer in the fifth extended the Aggies' lead to 5-0. The Wildcats finally broke through in the eighth, with Brody Liddy and Ethan Merone driving in runs to cut the deficit to 5-3. However, Delaware Valley added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning, making it 6-3.
SUNY Poly had a chance in the ninth with a leadoff walk from Unebasami, but the Aggies' bullpen held firm, securing a 6-3 victory.
