Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's baseball team opened the 2018 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) season on Wednesday afternoon with a split versus the visiting Wildcats of Cazenovia College losing the first game by a 7-1 margin then taking the nightcap 6-5. With the split the Fighting Tigers move to 2-15 overall on the year with a 1-1 mark in NEAC action while the Wildcats are now 5-11 overall including a 1-1 record in league play.
In the opener the Cobleskill defense failed to support junior right hander
Jordyn Schwark, Kingston, N.Y., Kingston High School/SUNY Adirondack, as three Fighting Tiger errors led to four unearned runs. Schwark worked five strong innings allowing three earned runs, striking out eight while walking only one.
In the nightcap, freshman pitcher
Devin Lewis, Cobleskill, N.Y, Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, played the role of stopper going seven strong innings allowing four earned runs in seven innings of work. The rookie lefty struck out four to post the victory overcoming a shaky start to hold the visitors scoreless over the last seven innings.
In relief of Lewis, freshman
Daniel Wade, Jefferson, N.Y., Jefferson Central High School, threw two scoreless innings to preserve the victory and earn his first career save.
Offensively the Fighting Tigers received multiple contributions as senior right fielder Kevin Johnson, Gloversville, N.Y., Gloversville High School, doubled home what would eventually be the winning two runs in the bottom of the third inning as part of a 1-for-4 effort while freshman second baseman
Zyere Molinaro, Summit, N.Y., Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, went 2-for-5 from the lead-off spot with a run scored and a RBI.
Freshman centerfielder
Mitchell Holmes, Dartmouth, Mass., Bristol County Agricultural, also played an important role in the win going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and a RBI. Holmes also drove in Cobleskill's lone run in the first game going 1-for-2 with a walk.
The Fighting Tigers will next be in home over the weekend when they host Lancaster Bible College on Saturday April 14
th for a pair of NEAC contests beginning at 12:00 p.m. followed on Sunday April 15
th when they will host Gallaudet University for a NEAC doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.
