Oneonta drops NCAA opener to Farmingdale 9-5
SUNY Oneonta’s first taste of the NCAA tournament was a bit bitter tonight as they fell to Farmingdale 9-5 in a game that was marred by a combined 12 errors. Neither starting pitcher was helped by its respective defense as five of the 14 runs in the contest were earned.
Oneonta (28-12) starter Dave Filak (8-1) suffered his first loss of the season going eight innings allowing only four hits and three earned runs of the eight that he was charged with in the game. He struck out eight batters to give him 104 for the season, which makes him the first pitcher in school history to surpass 100 strikeouts in a season.
Farmingdale (25-15) starter Chris Phelan (Patchogue/Patchogue-Medford) was lifted with one out in the seventh inning and was charged with five runs, two earned while recording eight strikeouts.
Farmingdale came out aggressive in the top of the first scoring three runs on two hits. Filak walked leadoff hitter, David Zilnicki (Riverhead/Riverhead) to start the game. Catcher Zak Nersesian (Valley Cottage/Nyack) followed with a bunt single that rolled along the third base line and hit the bag for a fair ball, which put runners at first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt by centerfielder Frank Yera (Manhattan/Grand Street Campus) moved the runners into scoring position for the clean-up hitter, Mike Labrozzi (Sag Harbor/Pierson). Labrozzi grounded out to shortstop, which scored Zilnicki from third base while moving Nersesian over to third. First baseman Kevin Curtis (Riverhead/Riverhead) then singled to right centerfield to drive in Nersesian.
After Curtis stole second, he came around to score on a throwing error by Oneonta third baseman Steve Gauck for the final run of the inning.
Oneonta had an up and down bottom of the first, loading the bases, but striking out three times to strand the three base runners.
Senior Carmine Caputo started things for the Red Dragons with a single through the right side. After Kevin Knack struck out, Caputo stole second to get himself into scoring position. Dan Randall then walked to put two men on for Mike Center. Center reached on a dropped fly ball by Yera to load the bases for Oneonta’s leading RBI man, senior Scott Dubben. The threat ended with back-to-back strikeouts of Dubben and Gauck by Phelan.
Farmingdale added a single run in the top of the second inning to go ahead 4-0. Second baseman Ryan McAllister (Miller Place/Rocky Point) led off with a walk, stole second, went to third on a ground out to third and stole home for the Rams’ run.
The Red Dragons cut into Farmingdale’s lead with a pair of runs in its half of the second inning. After a Pete Lindner fly out, sophomore Matt Whelehan reached on a throwing error by Curtis. Whelehan wasn’t on first base for long as freshman Bryan Marotta drilled a triple into the right center field gap that allowed Whelehan to score all the way from first. Marotta scored on a sacrifice fly to left field for the final run of the inning.
Oneonta got one run closer in the bottom of the fourth with a single run. Gauck led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Lindner then struck out and Whelehan grounded out to shortstop, which moved Gauck to third base. Marotta then singled through the left side to score Gauck with his second RBI of the contest. Marotta went to third when a fielding error by the second baseman allowed Caputo to reach. The threat ended when Knack lined out to center field.
It looked like Oneonta would get through the top of the fifth inning unscathed, but a fielding error by Knack led to four unearned runs. Brandon Cruz (Bronx/St. Michael) drew a leadoff walk and advanced two bases on two wild pitches. After Zilnicki struck out, Oneonta pulled the infield in to cut down the runner. The strategy worked as Dubben threw a strike to Marotta to cut down Cruz trying to score from third base.
Nersesian, who reached on the fielder’s choice on the putout at home, went to second on a single by Yera. Labrozzi was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Curtis was the beneficiary of the error by Knack as two runs scored on the play while allowing Labrozzi to get to third. Donny Moscatelli (Massapequa/Massapequa) then doubled to drive in both Labrozzi and Curtis to give the Rams an 8-3 lead.
The Red Dragons scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a pair of errors by the Rams.
After Randall flied out to right field, Center singled to left field to get things going in the inning. Center went to second on a failed pickoff and came around to score on a double by Dubben down the right field line. Dubben went to third on a ground out to second base by Gauck and came in on a dropped pop up by McAllister.
Oneonta threatened once more in the bottom of the eighth. Marotta reached on an error and Caputo walked to put runners on first and second with one out. After Knack grounded out to put runners at second and third, Randall struck out looking.
Oneonta will play again tomorrow against the loser of the St. John Fisher/Brockport game at 1:15 p.m. in the second elimination game of Day 2 of the regional tournament.
