FIGHTING TIGER BASEBALL SPLITS WITH CORNING IN HOME FINALE

The SUNY Cobleskill baseball team ended the home portion of the 2008 season on Saturday by splitting a NJCAA Region III Division III doubleheader with visiting Corning Community College taking the first game 7-6 in eight innings then falling in the second game by a score of 11-3. The split puts the Fighting Tigers overall record at 14-17 on the season to date.

With one out in the top of the seventh, freshman pitcher Tom Wiener, Montrose, NY, Hendrick Hudson High School, ripped his fourth single of the game into center and was then doubled to third base by senior leftfielder Tristan Massalay-Ellis, Flushing, NY, John Bowne High School. Then with two outs, senior third baseman Nick Poleto, Albany, NY, Colonie High School, laced a single into right-center tying the game at 6-6 and necessitating extra innings.

In the top of the seventh, freshman second baseman Matt Greene, Albany, NY, Colonie High School, singled to right and advanced to second on an error by the rightfielder. After Greene went to third on an infield out, Tom Wiener and Tristan Massalay-Ellis were walked bringing up senior first baseman Matt Hansen, Southold, NY, Southold High School, with the bases loaded. Hansen promptly hit the second pitch of the at-bat through a drawn-in Red Baron infield to give Cobleskill a 7-6 victory.

Hansen finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored while: Tom Wiener was 4-for-4 with two runs scored, Matt Greene was 2-for-5 with two RBI and Tristan Massalay-Ellis was 2-for-3 with a double. Tom Wiener also improved his pitching record to 5-3 on the season with the complete game victory allowing four earned runs, striking out three and walking no one.

 In the nightcap the Fighting Tigers pounded out 12 hits but could manage only three runs in the contest. Freshman shortstop Sebastian LaMountain, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, was 1-for-3 on the day with two RBI for the Fighting Tigers and Nick Poleto went 2-for-4 on the afternoon.

Cobleskill will close the season on Wednesday April 30th when they travel to Loch Sheldrake, NY to meet NJCAA Division II program Sullivan Community College for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 PM.