SUNY Cortland Athletics

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

Game 12: #3 SUNY Oneonta 9, #8 Castleton State College 2 


AUBURN, NY – Five players turned in multiple hit performance while the defense held with scoreless innings over the final four innings at third-seeded SUNY Oneonta earned its third straight loser’s bracket victory in a 9-2 victory over eighth-seeded Castleton State College in the final game of the day at the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship Auburn (NY) Regional at Falcon Park. 

The Red Dragons (31-12), who defeated Keene State College in the opening contest of the day, will face second-seeded St. John Fisher College in Saturday’s opening game at 1 p.m. The winner will advance to the 5 p.m. championship round against top seeded SUNY Cortland, needing to win twice to win the title and travel to Appleton, WI for the NCAA Division III Championship on May 28 through June 1. Cortland needs to win only one game to capture the title. 

The eighth seeded Owls, who staved off eliminated with back-to-back come-from-behind triumphs, including a 10-9 victory over defending regional champion Farmingdale State earlier in the day, finished their championship run with a 34-16 mark.

Oneonta jumped out to a 5-2 lead through six inning before breaking it open in the eighth with four runs on four hits after Castleton retired the first two batters in the inning. After senior centerfielder Carmine Caputo (MAHOPAC, NY/Mahopac) drew a walk, sophomore second baseman Kevin Knack (GHENT, NY/Ichabod Crane) followed with an infield single before senior first baseman Dan Randall (SALEM, NY/Salem) belted a two-run doubled to right centerfield.

Sophomore left fielder Michael Center (SCHENECTADY, NY/Schenectady) drove in Knack with another RBI double to left center and freshman right fielder Mike Mascari (SYRACUSE, NY/Westhill) ended the scoring with a single to left field a batter later, scoring Center.

Freshman catcher Bryan Marotta (CLIFTON PARK, NY/Shenendehowa) batted 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI to lead all Oneonta hitters. Randall finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI, while Knack, Center (two runs, RBI), and senior shortstop Scott Dubben (ROSEBOOM, NY/Cherry Valley Springfield) (RBI) had two hits each.

Sophomore lefthander Ken Smith (OSSINING, NY/Ossining) registered the win (3-1), giving up nine hits and both runs (one earned) while striking out two in five innings. Sophomore left hander Christopher (COLONIE, NY/Colonie), not related to Ken, pitched the final four innings for his first save, yielding three hits and a walk while striking out seven.

Castleton State scored its run in fourth and fifth innings and had four players with multiple hits. Senior left fielder Billy Manley (LOWELL, MA/Arlington) led the Owls, hitting 3-for-5 with a run scored. Right Fielder Garrett Bissonette finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while junior centerfielder Jack Lancelin (CHATHAM, NY/Chatham) and senior catcher Ted Mills (STOCKBRIDGE, NY/Whitcomb) (run) each finished 2-for-4.