SUNY Cortland Athletics

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

Game 5: #8 Castleton State College 7, #5 Skidmore College 6


AUBURN, NY – Trailing by a run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, eighth-ranked Castleton State College scored the tying and winning runs on infield errors to register a 7-6 triumph over fifth-ranked Skidmore College in an elimination game during day two of the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship Auburn (NY) Regional at Falcon Park. 

With the victory, the Spartans (33-15) stay alive in the double-elimination tournament, moving on to face the loser between Keene State College and host SUNY Cortland on Friday, May 21 at 10 am. The Throroughbreds, the Liberty League Champions, finishes the season with a 30-15 mark. 

After Skidmore made a pitching change in the bottom of the inning, moving sophomore Zack Rudman (PITTSFORD, NY/Pittsford Mendon) from first base, Castleton opened with junior first baseman Cesar De La Cruz (BRONX, NY/Schools for Careers in Sports) drawing a walk. De La Cruz moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore third baseman David Brandt (CONTOOCOO, NH/Hopkinton) and reached third on a wild pitch before scoring on an infield fielding error on a hit from freshman second baseman Ryan Zielinski (SCHENECTADY, NY/Schenectady). 

Junior centerfelder Jack Lancelin (CHATHAM, NY/Chatham) followed with a short infield single to the Rudman, whose throw was errant to first base, allowing a hard-charging Zielinski to score the winning run from first. 

De La Cruz was one of six players with a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Brandt finished 2-for-2, driving in three runs, Zielinski (RBI) and senior left fielder Billy Manley (LOWELL, MA/Arlington) each batted 2-for-5 with a run scored. 

Sophomore Tyler Erickson (NAUGATUCK, CT/Holy Cross) pitched the final five innings in relief to pick up the victory (8-4), giving up four runs (one earned) and three walks while striking out two. Rudman fell to 0-2 with the loss. 

Senior catcher Matt Pisani (WINCHESTER, MA/Winchester) and junior centerfielder Rob Rubenstein (HIGHLAND PARK, NJ/Highland Park) registered multiple hits for Skidmore, who held a 6-4 lead through six innings. Pisani went 3-for-5 with a run scored, followed by Rubinstein going 2-for-5 with a run scored. Freshman right fielder Matty Tatkow (SUDBURY, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) scored twice while finishing 1-for-3 at the plate.