Aston, Pa.: The SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers returned to the baseball diamond on Saturday after a six-year hiatus as the nation's newest program dropped their season opening doubleheader to the Nittany Lions of Penn State Brandywine by scores of 4-2 and 5-3 in games played at the Maplezone Sports Institute Sports Village. With the non-league losses the Fighting Tigers open the campaign 0-2 overall while the Nittany Lions start the season at 2-0.
In the program's debut it was junior second baseman
Lucas Butcher, Bainbridge, N.Y., Mohawk Valley Community College, who had the distinction of getting the Orange & Black's first hit of their return season when he singled in the first inning as part of a 1-for-2 effort including a walk and a RBI. Freshman third baseman
Jacob Hoffee, Lyndonville, N.Y., Lyndonville Central High School, was also a factor in the contest going 1-for-3 with a RBI.
Cobleskill junior right hander
Jordyn Schwark, Kingston, N.Y., SUNY Adirondack, took the loss for the visitors despite allowing only one earned run in four innings of work striking out two and walking one.
In the nightcap the Fighting Tigers found themselves trailing 5-1 after four innings before posting runs in the sixth and seventh innings to cut the lead to 5-3 but with the tying runs on base and only one out the Nittany Lions pitching settled in and held the visitors in check to preserve the win.
Jacob Hoffee once again had a strong outing at the plate going 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI with junior first baseman
Nate Carinci, Oneida, N.Y., Jefferson Community College, going 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored in the game.
Freshman southpaw
Ryan O'Keefe, Albany, N.Y., Albany High School, was tagged with the loss allowing three earned runs in three innings of work striking out three, walking three while hitting a batter.
The Fighting Tigers will return to action on Saturday March 3
rd when they travel to Dunmore, Pa. to face Penn State Worthington/Scranton in doubleheader action beginning at 12:00 p.m.
