Rams Upset 11th Ranked Cortland State
Farmingdale State - 10, #11 Cortland State - 5
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's
baseball team defeated #11 Cortland State, posting their second win
over a ranked opponent this season, with a 10-5 victory tonight in
a non-conference game in Farmingdale, N.Y. The Rams (8-8) took an
early 2-1 lead after one inning and fell behind 3-2, before scoring
seven runs in the final two at-bats to go on for the win.
In the top of the seventh, the Red Dragons (9-4) brought in two runs on two hits and one error to increase their lead to 5-3.
The bottom of the eighth would prove to be the game-winning inning for Farmingdale State, who with one hit and smart base running, were able to take advantage of four Cortland errors to score four runs for a 7-5 lead. Junior outfielder Vinny Block (Mineola, N.Y./Chaminade/St. Peter's) pinch hit at the leadoff spot and walked. Senior John Anarumo (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur) came in to pinch run for Block. Junior catcher Zak Nersesian (Nyack, N.Y./Nyack) laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error by the pitcher, while Anarumo was able to score on the error (Rams trail 4-5). Senior shortstop Brian Benvenuto (Dix Hills, N.Y./Hills West/Nassau CC) reached on an error by the shortstop and Nersesian scored on the error to tie it at 5-5. Junior designated hitter Mike Labrozzi (Sag Harbor, N.Y./Pierson) grounded out, while Benvenuto moved over to second. Sophomore first basemen Kevin Curtis (Riverhead, N.Y./Riverhead) reached on an error by the first basemen, moving Benvenuto to third. Curtis stole second. Junior right fielder Frank Ennis (Commack, N.Y./Commack) doubled down the left field line, scoring Benvenuto and Curtis, for the two RBI game-winning hit (Rams lead 7-5).
Farmingdale shutout Cortland in the top of the eighth and would add three more runs in the bottom of the inning on five hits, to hold a 10-5 advantage. With two outs, Benvenuto doubled down the left field line, followed by a Labrozzi single up the middle, moving Benvenuto over to third. Senior Mike Dietrich (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) pinch ran for Labrozzi. Curtis hit an RBI single to score Benvenuto (8-3 Rams), moving Dietrich to third and then he would advance to second on an error by the centerfielder. A passed ball would score Dietrich (9-3 Rams), and move Curtis to third. Junior left fielder Donny Moscatelli (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) ripped an RBI single up the middle to score Curtis (10-3 Rams) for the final run of the eighth.
Junior right hander Mike Biasi (Copiague, N.Y./Copiague/Nassau CC) got the win for Farmingdale in 1.1 innings pitched. Junior Brandon DeRosa (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) got the loss for Cortland.
The Rams host Mount Saint Mary College on Saturday, March 21st in a Skyline Conference doubleheader at Noon, before hosting CCNY in a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday at Noon.
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