Spartans Rally for Split

Trailing by nine runs early, Cayuga Community College Baseball rallied in the late innings for a dramatic victory over Onondaga Community College on Friday.

Cayuga trailed 10-1 through three innings, but they tallied 12 runs in the final three innings for a 13-11 win. They almost duplicated the effort in the second game when they trailed 6-1 in the final inning before losing 6-5. The loss ended a nine-game win streak and makes Cayuga 19-7 on the season.

The Lazers' lineup dominated the early innings, plating five runs in the second and building a 10-1 lead through the third. Cayuga's lone run came in the second inning when Eathen Yoon scored on Tristan Sierra's double.

The Spartans' lineup erupted in the fourth inning with eight runs. Ten of the first 11 batters of the inning reached base safely, with Emilio Turco's triple and Jack Stemerman's RBI single opening the inning. Chase Mascelli doubled home two runs in the inning, and Turco and Stemerman both singled home runs later in the inning.

Cayuga took the lead in the fifth when Tyler Black singled home Mascelli and Wilfredo Paulino, but the Lazers pulled even in the top of the sixth. The Spartans took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning when Mascelli singled home Stemerman and Alejandro Diaz scored on a bases-loaded walk.

Stemerman had three hits, three RBI and two runs scored, and Mascelli had three hits, three runs and three RBI. Black had two hits and three RBI, and Turco had two hits. Nine different Spartans scored in the game.

Cayuga fell behind in the second game when the Lazers plated four runs in the third inning. The Spartans got on the board in the fifth when Turco doubled home Joshua Lightburn, but they trailed 6-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. They loaded the bases with one out, and Yoon singled home two to make it 6-3. RBI singles from Ben Hatfield and Lightburn followed, but the Lazers recorded the final two outs with the bases loaded again.

Lightburn had three hits, a run and an RBI in the game, and Yoon had two RBI.

Cayuga is on the road Saturday, April 4, at SUNY Adirondack. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.