By NATE DISCAVAGE
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Wesley Burghardt (SUNY-Brockport) scampered home with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Cortland Crush defeated the Oneonta Outlaws in game one of the New York Collegiate Baseball League Eastern Divisional Series at Beaudry Park, Monday night.
Burghardt led off the bottom of the ninth with a double before moving to third on a William Haaland (Trinity University) single with no outs. After Sean Getman (SUNY-Cortland) walked to load the bases, Yale Hughes (West Liberty University) stepped up to the plate and hit a groundball to the right side of the infield. The ball was mishandled and Burghardt crossed the plate to send Cortland fans home happy.
After spotting the Crush three runs in the first five innings, Oneonta scored a run in the sixth, seventh and eighth to tie the game entering the ninth.
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Tyler Martis (Siena College) worked a one-out walk and came around the score the Outlaws’ first run of the game on a Jordan Bradley (Wofford College) RBI-single in the sixth.
Trevor Putzig (Tennessee Tech University) hit a one-out double in the top of the seventh as Oneonta pushed in another run with a fielder’s choice later in the frame.
Zach Krider (University of South Carolina-Upstate) connected on a two-out game-tying RBI-double in the top of the eighth. However, Oneonta could not manage another hit for the rest of the game as reliever Tom Saundry (Niagara University) pitched one and one-third innings of shut-down baseball as he earned the win.
Despite not factoring into the decision, both starters gave strong performances for their ball clubs.
Shae Edmonds (Howard Payne University) pitched six and two-third innings allowing two runs on seven hits. He allowed two walks and sent four Outlaws back to the bench via the strikeout.
Michael Adams (Albany) tossed a strong seven innings for Oneonta. The 6’5 right-hander allowed three runs on 11 hits but struck out seven batters in the game.
Nate Williams (Western Carolina University) suffered the loss for Oneonta. He pitched one inning, allowing one run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Luke Gilbert (SUNY-Brockport) led Cortland offensively going 3-for-4 with a double, walk and three runs in the victory.
Game one will resume Tuesday with the Outlaws leading Cortland 5-0 in the third inning. the decisive game three, if necessary, will follow. The series winner will go on to play the winner of the Syracuse JR Chiefs/Syracuse Salt Cats matchup in the New York College Baseball League Eastern Division Championship.
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