COBLESKILL BASEBALL SWEEPS MORRISVILLE TO EVEN RECORD AT 14-14

Not 48 hours after their dramatic 14-11 come-from-behind victory over Columbia-Greene Community College the SUNY Cobleskill baseball team found themselves back on the road headed for Morrisville, NY, for a Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader versus Morrisville State College with post-season bid ramifications on the line. The Fighting Tiger pitching staff proved the difference corralling the Mustangs by scores of 5-0 and 7-2 to even the Fighting Tiger overall record to 14-14 on the year with an 11-3 record versus MVC and Region III Division III competition.

Freshman knuckleballer John Wallace, Avoca, NY, Avoca High School, road the wind currents to victory in game one over the Mustangs scattering seven hits while striking out three and allowing only one walk on the day. It was the first college career shutout win for Wallace who pushed his record to 3-1 on the season for the Fighting Tigers.

Offensively, Cobleskill played long-ball as senior first baseman Matt Young, Delmar, NY, Bethlehem High School, blasted his second home run of the year going 1-for-4 with two RBI in the victory. Senior catcher Tyler Hibsch Strykersville, NY, Pioneer High School, also helped his battery partner out hitting his first home run of the season going 1-for-3 on the day with an RBI. Senior designated hitter Mikael Wilson, Brooklyn, NY, Edward R. Murrow High School, also continued his strong play of late with an RBI single in the sixth finishing the day 1-for-3 at the plate.

In game two the Fighting Tigers handed the ball to senior starter Matt Aker, Nelliston, NY, Fort Plain High School, on just two days rest and the veteran left-hander stymied the Mustangs on only four hits while striking out four and walking only two.

The Cobleskill offense benefited from five Mustang errors in the field with freshman right fielder Adam Cernauskus, Cobleskill, NY, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Senior third baseman Mike Disarno, Grand Island, NY, Grand Island High School, continued his solid season going 2-for-3 with an RBI while freshman shortstop Jacob Wilkinson, New Haven VT, Mt. Abraham High School, went 2-for-4 in the contest, to complete a 3-for-7 with one RBI day, with freshman second baseman Bret Wrixon, Kingston, NY, Kingston High School, matching his double play partner’s 2-for-4 outing with the bat.

“I can’t say enough about our pitching staff today with John Wallace coming up big with the shutout and Matt Aker on short rest doing what he did,” said first-year Fighting Tiger Head Coach Bill Makarowski. “I looked at Aker on Wednesday against Columbia-Greene and he just said ‘I’m ready coach,’ and today he didn’t complain or cry about short rest he just took the ball and kept us in the play-off race. We stepped up today as a team and now we’ve got find a way to get ready for Corning tomorrow.”  

The Fighting Tigers will host Corning Community College for two games on Saturday April 29th at Fighting Tiger Field beginning at 2:00 PM. In between games, Cobleskill will honor the senior members of the team in a brief ceremony.