LEESBURG, FLA. – Spalding University scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat nationally top-ranked Cortland, 5-4, at Pat Thomas Stadium. The Golden Eagles improved to 9-1 with the victory. The Red Dragons, who had just moved into the top spot in the latest D3baseball.com national poll earlier in the day, are now 8-2.

The game was originally scheduled to be played Tuesday morning in Auburndale, Fla., but rain forced the game to be rescheduled in Leesburg Tuesday evening.

Spalding scored the winning run on a two-out RBI single by Keith Gorence, two batters after Kyler Whitlock had driven in the tying run, also with two outs. The Golden Eagles trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of the eighth but scored twice on JR Belt's two-out, two-run double.

Senior Zack Graczyk (Carmel) finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored and junior P.J. Rinaldi (Bethel, CT) went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Cortland. Sophomore Brandon McClain (Coram/Longwood) started for the Red Dragons and struck out 10 batters in seven and a third innings. He allowed only four hits and three walks and was charged with two runs.

Belt finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and Whitlock was 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI for Spalding. Ryan Mosby pitched a complete game for his second win of the season. He scattered nine hits and walked three while allowing four runs, three earned.

Cortland led 1-0 in the top of the first when Graczyk singled, was bunted to second by Brian Barry (Nesconset/Smithtown East) and scored on a John Adornetto (Commack) RBI single. Spalding tied the game on Belt's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first.

The Red Dragons went ahead 3-1 in the second on a Michael DeCarr (Syracuse/Westhill) RBI fielder's choice and a Bryan Mistretta (Commack) RBI single. Cortland added a run in the seventh in a similar fashion as the first inning when Graczyk singled, was sacrificed to second by Barry and scored on a Rinaldi RBI single.

Cortland will face Franklin & Marshall College on Thursday at 11 a.m. in Auburndale.

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