Nationally Ranked Cortland Sweeps Hawks

CORTLAND, NY — Cortland, ranked sixth in the nation, scored 43 runs and pounded out 44 hits Saturday in a doubleheader sweep of New Paltz baseball.

Cortland improves to 21-8 overall and 13-1 in the SUNYAC. New Paltz sinks to 8-19 and 4-4 in conference games.

In game one, the Red Dragons, already leading 5-0, opened up a huge gap scoring 12 times in the third for a 17-0 lead. Jeff Flegler’s grand slam and Josh Horner’s five RBI highlighted the inning for the winners.

In the fourth, Cortland added seven more runs with Matt Ellis leading the way with a two-run homer. Ellis finished the game going 4-for-5 and Horner and Andy Mead both were 3-for-3.

Mike Burnett got the win surrendering just one hit to Silvester Castro (New York, NY). Keith Roloson (Westtown, NY) took the loss giving up 12 runs on nine hits. Jeff Cote’ (Mechanicsville, MD) drove in the Hawks’ only run with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly that plated Kevin Smith (Niskayuna, NY).

In the nightcap, the Red Dragons sent the ball out of the yard five times, including two each from Flegler and Neal Heaton Jr.

The Hawks managed six hits in the contest, including two from Matt Zajdel (Agwam, MA). Cote’ drove in both of the Hawks’ runs in the fifth with a two-RBI single.

Matt Miller picked up the win on the hill for the Red Dragons improving to 3-1 while New Paltz’s Rich Bizelia (Massapequa, NY) dropped to 1-4 in the loss.

The Hawks will next be in action against this weekend with road doubleheaders with Fredonia and Brockport.