Spartans Split with Timberwolves

Cayuga Community College Baseball split a home doubleheader with SUNY Adirondack on Saturday behind a dominant effort on the mound by Will Coleman.

In a pair of well-pitched games, the Spartans won the opener 4-1 behind Coleman's complete game but fell 2-0 in eight innings to the Timberwolves and starter Xavier Garcia. The split makes Cayuga 16-4 on the season and 12-2 in Region III play.

Cayuga Coach John Rizzo complimented Coleman and Carson Ashby, who started the second game for the Spartans, saying both threw "unbelievable starts."

"Unfortunately, we could only net one win today. Offensively we saw two great arms and did enough to win the first game and got beat in the second. We have to tip our hat to their starter in the second game and the way he pitched today," said Rizzo. "Conference baseball is all about winning each series, so our two games against Adirondack on Thursday are big."

Almost all the Spartans' offense in the opener came in the first inning when Michael Norton bashed a bases-loaded double, scoring Caleb Delly, Phil Messina and Tyler Korsky. The Timberwolves kept  Cayuga from scoring again until the sixth inning, when a single by Delly scored Juan Perez to make it 4-1.

The Spartans' four runs were more than enough for Coleman, who scattered four hits while striking out eight to pick up the complete game win. Delly finished two-for-three with a double, run and RBI and Perez also went two-for-three with a run.

The second game matched Cayuga's Ashby against Garcia, and both threw zeros on the board through the first seven innings. The Timberwolves loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth and scored two on an error, giving them the margin for the 2-0 win. Ashby threw 7 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and zero earned runs while striking out six.

Cayuga is on the road Thursday, April 13 for a doubleheader at SUNY Adirondack. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.