Auburndale, Fla.: The SUNY Cobleskill baseball team beat the winter weather on Monday traveling to the Sunshine State to compete at the 2023 Russ Matt Invitational Tournament. The Fighting Tigers opened their road trip with an 18-10 loss to the Polar Bears of Northern Ohio University then closed the day with a 10-9 loss to the Lions of The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in games played at Lake Myrtle Park Field. With the defeats the Fighting Tigers fall to 1-4 overall on the season.

The Fighting Tigers started strong jumping out to an 8-3 lead after five innings behind timely hitting and a solid outing from senior southpaw Devin Lewis, Cobleskill, N.Y., Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, and held a 9-7 advantage over the Polar Bears going into the seventh inning before the Ohioans outscored them 11-1 over the final three frames to post the win.

Cobleskill was led in the slugfest by first-year right fielder Logan Firmont, Andes, N.Y., South Kortright High School, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a double and four RBI and by sophomore catcher Logan Hutter, Smithtown, N.Y., Smithtown West High School, who went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Sophomore left fielder Trevor Grieb, Red Hook, N.Y., Red Hook High School, also turned in a solid effort at the plate for the Orange & Black going 2-for-5 with a triple and a run scored.

In the second game, the Fighting Tigers tallied four times in the top of the eighth inning to take a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the inning when the Lions scored twice to even the score at 9-9 heading into the ninth.

After Cobleskill failed to score in the top of the inning TCNJ took advantage of a walk, a single and an error to push the winning run across the plate.

The Orange & Black continued to show potent offense in the contest led by right fielder Logan Hutter who posted a perfect 4-for-4 outing at the plate to go with a double, a triple, five RBI and a run scored while senior third baseman Frank Leger, Bronx, N.Y., All Hallows High School, went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI. Junior catcher Matthew Snyder, Latham, N.Y., Shaker High School, as had a big game at the plate going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Cobleskill will next be in action on Tuesday March 14 at the Russ Matt Invitational Tournament at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex when the meet the Yellowjackets of the University of Wisconsin-Superior for a doubleheader beginning at 3:15 p.m.