Auburndale, FL: The SUNY Cobleskill baseball team dropped an 8-4 decision to the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in their second game of the RussMatt Invitational on Thursday afternoon.

Zach Ducorsky (Oceanside, NY) led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and two runs scored. Cole Platt (Oneonta, NY) added a 2-for-4 day with a double and an RBI, while Troy Enamait (Vernon, CT/Rockville) also finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. David Flora (Windsor, NY) chipped in with two hits and two runs scored.

On the mound, Jack Laughlin (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) took the loss (0-1), allowing four unearned runs over 1.2 innings. Evan Balbera (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford) provided length in relief, tossing 4.1 innings with three strikeouts, while Reis Brammer (Cohoes, NY/CBA Albany) closed things out with two scoreless frames.

The Fighting Tigers struck first in the top of the second when Cole Platt laced an RBI single to left field, bringing in Enamait for a 1-0 lead. The Bluejays, however, responded with a four-run second inning—capitalizing on Cobleskill miscues—to jump ahead 4-1.

Cobleskill chipped away in the third when Zach Ducorsky showcased his speed, singling and swiping second before coming around to score on a Korin Laurilla (East Greenbush, NY) RBI double. But Saint Joseph added two more in the bottom half and another pair in the fourth, pushing their advantage to 8-2.

The Tigers continued to battle, with Logan Firment (Andes, NY/South Kortright) lofting a sacrifice fly in the fifth to plate Ducorsky. In the seventh, David Flora crossed home after an infield single by Enamait, cutting the deficit to four. However, Cobleskill couldn't mount a late rally, as the Bluejays' bullpen shut the door.

Cobleskill (1-5) looks to bounce back on Saturday when they open North Atlantic Conference play with a doubleheader against UMaine-Farmington at 4:00 p.m.