Spartans Split Series with Hawks

Cayuga Community College Baseball dropped its first contest to Mohawk Valley Community College on Tuesday but rebounded to take the second game.

The Spartans struggled to bring home runners in scoring position in the first game and fell 3-2 in the final inning, but a strong start from Connor McMahon and a resurgent lineup gave Cayuga a 10-2 win in the nightcap. Cayuga is now 11-3 on the season and 7-1 in Region III play.

Cayuga Coach John Rizzo complimented starting pitchers Luke Ough and McMahon, who combined to allow just four runs in 13 innings across the doubleheader.

"We had a great start from Connor in the second game, and Luke pitched well enough in the first game to win," said Rizzo. "Our situational hitting hasn't been great so far this season, and it hurt us in the first game today."

The Hawks took the lead early in the opener with two runs in the first inning before Ough took control on the mound and held them scoreless for the next five innings. Cayuga tied the game in the fourth when a single by Phil Messina scored Fernando Espinal and Mike Norton scored on an error. Cayuga loaded the bases in the fifth and sixth but didn't score, and the Hawks scored the deciding run in the seventh.

Ough allowed two earned runs in six innings, scattering seven hits and striking out eight. Messina went two-for-three with a walk and an RBI to lead the Spartans at the plate.

Cayuga dominated the second game, scoring three runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings to build a 9-1 lead. Singles by Norton and Juan Perez brought in runs in the first inning, and a triple by Brandon Hoftijzer scored Roy Glaum in the top of the fourth before Caleb Delly brought home Hoftijzer on a single. Norton hit his team-leading third homer in the fifth inning.

McMahon picked up his first win of the season with the complete game, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out six. Norton went three-for-three with four RBI, and Delly, Messina, Glaum and Hoftijzer each had two hits.

Cayuga is back home Thursday to host Columbia-Greene Community College. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.