FIGHTING TIGER BASEBALL SWEEPS ADIRONDACK IN MVC PLAY 7-3 & 15-5

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s baseball team made a powerful statement yesterday sweeping a doubleheader from visiting Mountain Valley Conference rival Adirondack Community College by scores of 7-3 and 15-5 to extend their current winning streak to six games and move into a tie at the top of the conference for the first time since the 1995 season. The victories push the Fighting Tigers overall record to 7-11 on the season with a perfect 4-0 record in league play.

In the first game Cobleskill scored early and often jumping out to a 6-0 lead after three innings then cruised to the win behind the strong arm of  senior pitcher Matt Aker, Nelliston, NY, Fort Plain High School, who went the distance striking out five while walking only two on the afternoon in seven innings of work.

On offense freshman right field Adam Cernauskus, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, continued his torrid hitting going 3-for-4 with three RBI in the victory. The senior combination of third baseman Mike Disarno, Grand Island, NY, Grand Island High School, and first baseman Matt Young, Delmar, NY, Bethlehem High School, continued to prove lethal to opposing pitching as Disarno went 2-for-2 on the day with a pair of RBI while Young went 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI in the game.

In the nightcap, the Fighting Tigers found themselves trailing after four innings by a score of 5-2 to the Timberwolves. Unlike in past seasons where a tally in the loss column was almost certain, Cobleskill unleashed their version of “five o’clock lighting” exploding for 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth and then ended the game in the sixth with an additional three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Matt Young once again was at the heart of the explosion finishing the day going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI with freshman designated hitter John Wallace, Avoca, NY, Avoca High School, making his presence felt in the batting order with a 4-for-4 game including three RBI. Freshman second baseman Bret Wrixon, Kingston, NY, Kingston High School, was 2-for-3 with two RBI while freshman outfielder Danny DiLoreto, Tappen Zee, NY, Rockland High School, went 1-for-4 on the day with a pair of RBI. Adam Cernauskus kept his hitting streak alive going 1-for-4 on the afternoon with three runs scored and an RBI.

“In the first game we jumped on them early with our bats and I thought once again our pitching and defense was very solid,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Bill Makarowski. “In the second game I was proud of the way we battled back and asserted ourselves. You never got the sense in the dugout that we couldn’t win and that it was only a matter of time before we were going to jump on them. Now we’ve got to get ready for Hudson Valley on Friday which in my mind will show us where we stand as a program.”  

The Fighting Tigers will next travel to Troy, NY on Friday April 14th to meet the Vikings of Hudson Valley Community College for a Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader beginning at 12:00 PM.