Lafayette NY – The Cortland Crush fell to the Spartans in seven innings by a score of 14-8 at Lafayette High School on Friday night.
The Crush would get on the board first as Jamison Howland reached on a walk and stole second base before a dropped third strike and an error on the throw to first by the Spartan catcher allowed Jake Freed to reach first and Howland to round third and score to make it 1-0.
Cortland held that until the top of the fourth inning when the Spartans started a rally that allowed them to score three runs and take the lead at 3-1. Cortland would then answer back with three of their own in the bottom of the inning.
It all started with Robby Harrison and Jack Coogan getting hit by pitches and after a lineout into a double play Grayson Saltzer was hit by a pitch as well. A wild pitch allowed both Coogan and Saltzer to advance before Ben Ryan delivered with a rbi single into left field to make it 3-2. Jamison Howland then walked and Nick Mahar hit a line drive double into left field that plated Coogan and Ryan before Howland was thrown out at the plate.
The Spartans answered right back however scoring 8 in the top of the fifth to take a commanding lead and would hold it until the sixth inning when Cortland staged a two out rally to cut the deficit. With two outs and Grayson Saltzer at first base, Nick Mahar hit a triple into right field that plated Saltzer and Jake Freed reached on a infield single to score Mahar and make it 11-6.
Syracuse got three more in the top of the seventh to lead it 14-6 and in the bottom of the seventh inning a pinch hitting Zach Masnikoff hit a two run home run to right field to make it 14-8.
The game finished after the seventh inning due to lighting and the Spartans escaped with the win 14-8. Cortland is off tomorrow before heading to Sherrill on Sunday for a game at 2:00.