Charlotte, N.C. – The SUNY Poly baseball team held off a late rally to earn a 7–6 victory over Johnson & Wales–Charlotte on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats built a five-run lead through seven innings before the hosts surged back in the bottom half of the seventh, but SUNY Poly ultimately held on to secure the win and move to 3-5 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both teams were held scoreless through the opening two innings as the starting pitchers settled in early. SUNY Poly went down in order in the first, while Johnson & Wales threatened in the bottom half after a Jordan Brown single and a walk to Cannon Jackson, but the Wildcats cut down Brown attempting to steal third to end the inning.
The Wildcats put together their first scoring opportunity in the third. Johnny Yamin worked a two-out walk and Quinn Hill followed with a single to center field to put two runners on, but the rally was halted when Ethan Merone grounded out to shortstop.
Johnson & Wales broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. After reaching on a SUNY Poly error, Jayden Nezaj came around to score when Sami Nezaj lined an RBI single to center field, giving the hosts a 1–0 lead.
SUNY Poly responded in the fourth with a two-run rally. Luke Landis reached on an error and Zach Place drew a walk before John Leonard laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Maddox Garvey then delivered with a clutch two-RBI single to center field, bringing home Landis and Place to give the Wildcats a 2–1 advantage. Will Orlando followed with a double to center, but the inning ended when Garvey was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice.
The Wildcats added to their lead in the fifth when Quinn Hill launched a solo home run to left field, pushing the score to 3–1.
Johnson & Wales trimmed the deficit in the bottom of the inning. Alijah Rainey singled and later scored when Jordan Brown lined an RBI single to center, making it 3–2 after five innings.
SUNY Poly extended its lead again in the sixth. Garvey led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Orlando before scoring on a passed ball during a walk to Brody Liddy, increasing the Wildcats' advantage to 4–2.
The Wildcats broke the game open in the seventh inning with a three-run frame. John Leonard sparked the rally with a solo home run to right-center field. After Garvey singled and Orlando walked, Liddy knocked an RBI single to right field to score Garvey. Johnny Yamin followed with another RBI single to left, bringing home Orlando and stretching the SUNY Poly lead to 7–2.
Johnson & Wales responded with a big inning of its own in the bottom of the seventh. Consecutive singles from Jayden Nezaj and Sami Nezaj set the table before Jordan Brown drove in a run with a single to right center. Cannon Jackson added another RBI single, and Marco Fernandez later reached on a fielder's choice that allowed an unearned run to score. Dev Hernandez followed with an RBI single to right center as the hosts plated four runs to cut the deficit to 7–6.
The Wildcats' bullpen settled things down from there. SUNY Poly worked out of the eighth inning after a leadoff walk, stranding the potential tying run on base.
In the ninth, Maddox Garvey singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but the Wildcats were unable to add insurance as Johnson & Wales escaped the inning.
Johnson & Wales put the tying run aboard in the bottom of the ninth after a one-out single and a walk, but SUNY Poly turned a key double play off the bat of Carlitos Ramirez to end the game and secure the 7–6 victory.
