Marcy, N.Y.: With the 2024 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play-offs fast approaching, the SUNY Cobleskill baseball team split a conference road doubleheader with the host Wildcats of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) on Saturday afternoon losing the first game 4-3 then taking the finale by an identical 4-3 margin. With the split the Fighting Tigers are now 15-20 overall on the year including a 10-3 record in league action to lead the NAC Western Division while the Wildcats move to 17-16 overall including a 7-6 record in conference contests.
 
In the opener the Fighting Tigers held a 3-1lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning when with two outs and runners on first and second Wildcat designated hitter Ryan Pelton cleared the center field fence to give the SUNY Poly the walk-off victory.
 
Fighting Tiger junior starter Adam Jarkow, Glen Head, N.Y., Northport High School, suffered the loss to fall to 1-4 overall on the year.
 
At the plate Cobleskill received productive efforts from sophomore designated hitter Jesus Sarda, Colonie, N.Y., Colonie High School, who went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and an RBI and senior right fielder Samuel Gutierrez, Martin Van Buren High School/Queensborough Community College, who was 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
In the nightcap the Fighting Tigers broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the sixth inning when junior catcher Dylan Pohl, East Meadow, N.Y., East Meadow High School, singled then advanced to third on a two-out single by junior second baseman Stephen Tejada, Queens, N.Y., High School for Construction Technology, and then scored on a passed ball to make it 4-3.
 
Senior reliever Jason Treffiletti, Cohoes, N.Y., Shaker High School, was credited with the victory to move to 4-1 overall working 2 1/3 innings allowing earned runs on two hits while striking out two and walking one with relief help from senior right hander Jordan Stone, Cohoes, N.Y., Cohoes High School, who overcame a Fighting Tiger defensive lapse to post the save.
 
Senior third baseman David Flora, Windsor, N.Y., Windsor High School/Herkimer Community College, led the offense going 3-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a pair of RBI while senior first baseman Chris Champlin, Jefferson, N.Y., South Kortright High School, was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
 
The Orange & Black will return to action on Tuesday April 20 when they are scheduled to travel to Albany, N.Y. for a solo contest versus the Gators of Russell Sage College beginning at 7:00 p.m.