SUNY Cortland Athletics

2010 NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP – AUBURN (NY) REGIONAL at Falcon Park

Game 6: #3 SUNY Oneonta 9, #7 College at Brockport 7 


AUBURN, NY – Freshman Bryan Marotta (CLIFTON PARK, NY/Shenendehowa) came off of the bench as a pinch hitter to go 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, driving in the winning run on an RBI single with two out in the top of the ninth inning, as second-ranked SUNY Oneonta tallied three runs in the final three innings and held off a late charge by The College of Brockport in the bottom half of the inning en route to a come-from-behind 9-7 victory in an elimination game during the Auburn (NY) Regional of the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship at Falcon Park. 

The Red Dragons (29-12), making their first ever NCAA tournament appearance, will play the loser of Keane State College versus SUNY Cortland in another elimination game on Friday, May 21 at 10 am. Brockport, the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champion, ends its season with a 23-18 mark.

Marotta was one of five players to record multiple hits for Oneonta, who pounded out 14 total hits in the win. Senior centerfielder Carmine Caputo (MAHOPAC, NY/Mahopac) went a perfect 3-for-3, scoring twice with two RBI. Sophomore second baseman Kevin Knack (GHENT, NY/Ichabod Crane) and senior first baseman Dan Randall (SALEM, NY/Salem) each went 2-for-5, with Knack scoring a run, while senior third baseman Steve Gauck (CLIFTON PARK, NY/Shenendehowa) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

Oneonta trailed 2-1 through five innings before exploding for five runs on seven hits in the top of the sixth to jump out to a 6-3 lead, with junior pinch hitter Pete Linder (VOORHEESVILLE, NY/Voorheesville, sac fly), Marotta, Caputo (single), Knack (triple), and Randall (single) driving in runs.

Brockport answered with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead, 7-6. Freshman right fielder Stephen Boronczyk (SYRACUSE, NY/Corcoran) and senior left fielder Jeff Jones (LANCASTER, NY/Lancaster) each drove in a run on singles through the left side, while freshman third baseman Mike Weakley (LANCASTER, NY/Lancaster) added a run on a sacrifice fly, scoring Jones from third base.

Junior centerfielder Max Keado (TROY, NY/Catholic Central) was the top hitter for the Golden Eagles, going 5-for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Senior catcher Joe Zaccardo (WEBSTER, NY/Webster Schroeder) and senior second baseman Mike Meola (LIVERPOOL, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) each hit 3-for-4, with both driving in runs and Meola scoring a run.

Oneonta tied the score in the top of the seventh on a two-out single by Caputo, scoring Gauck from second base, before taking the lead to stay with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth.

Junior Anthony Bates (UTICA, NY/Utica Proctor) pitched the final two and two-thirds of relief in picking up the win (4-5), striking out six batters while giving up four hits and a walk, while sophomore James Williamson (MEXICO, NY/Mexico) was tagged with the loss (0-5). The third of five pitchers used for the Golden Eagles, he pitched two and a third innings, allowing a pair of hits and two runs while striking out two.