AUBURNDALE, FLA. – Senior Zack Graczyk (Carmel) went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored as nationally top-ranked Cortland held off Franklin & Marshall College, 9-8, in a non-league game. The Red Dragons improve to 9-2 overall and are 7-0 this season versus “in-region” opponents.

Junior Max Rosing (Rockville Centre/South Side) finished 2-for-3 with a double, walk and four RBI and senior Brian Barry (Nesconset/Smithtown East) was 2-for-4 with a homer, walk and two RBI for the Red Dragons.

Will Benenson finished 3-for-4 with two walks, an RBI and two runs scored for Franklin & Marshall (3-6). Avery Attinson, Aaron Gillette and Matt Mezansky each added two hits as the Diplomats out-hit the Red Dragons, 11-9.

Cortland led 2-0 in the top of the first on a Rosing two-run single, by F&M scored four in the bottom of the second to knock out Red Dragon starter Matt Holling (Horseheads). The first three runs scored on a Gillette RBI single, an Alex Vescera sacrifice fly and an Attinson bases-loaded walk. A balk scored the fourth run before a flyout ended the inning.

Cortland took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the third. James Quinn (Guilderland) singled and scored on a Graczyk RBI double. Graczyk went to third on an error during the next at-bat and scored on a Rosing sacrifice fly to right to knot the game at 4-4. Barry followed with a two-run homer to right to give the Red Dragons a 6-4 lead.

Benenson plated a run with a bases-loaded walk in the third, but Cortland answered with two runs in the fourth on RBI doubles by Graczyk and Rosing. The Red Dragons' lead grew to 9-5 in the top of the sixth when Quinn walked, stole second, went to third on an error during the steal and scored on a Graczyk sacrifice fly.

F&M started the bottom of the sixth with a Benenson double, a Kevin Shields walk, and RBI singles by Attinson and Mezansky to close within 9-7. Steven Kimmelman (Riverhead) entered the game with runners on first and second and no outs and recorded a strikeout, a fielder's choice and a flyout to prevent further damage.

The Diplomats threatened again in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs on a single and two walks. Cody Petre (Silver Springs/Letchworth), however, got the next batter to ground into a 4-6-3 double play, with a run scoring. Following a walk, Petre induced a flyout to preserve Cortland's one-run lead. He then retired the side in order in both the eighth and ninth innings, striking out four, to earn the save.

Senior Zachary Badanes (Syosset) was awarded the victory by the official scorer. Despite another player being the pitcher of record when Cortland took the lead for good in the third, that pitcher only pitched two thirds of an inning and was not deemed effective. Badanes shut out F&M in both the fourth and fifth innings and finished with four hits and one walk allowed with three strikeouts and two runs in two and a third innings.

Cortland has three games remaining on its Florida trip - contests Friday in Auburndale versus Western New England at 1 p.m. and Rowan at 5 p.m., and another game against Rowan Saturday at 11 a.m. in Leesburg.

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