Farmingdale Tops Top-seeded Cortland
#4 Farmingdale State - 6, #1 Cortland - 4
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State
baseball team defeated Cortland State, 6-4, in an elimination game
tonight in Farmingdale, N.Y. Junior right-handed pitcher Steven
King (Freeport, N.Y.) threw seven and two-thirds solid innings for
the win. King allowed only one earned run, walked one, and struck
out five. The game marks the second time this season that
Farmingdale has knocked off the 19th nationally-ranked Red Dragons.
The Rams got its offense started first in the fourth with a
run-scoring single by senior shortstop Brian Benvenuto (Dix Hills,
N.Y.). Junior left fielder Don Moscatelli (Massepequa, N.Y.)
singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw to home
as Benvenuto was held. Junior right fielder Frank Ennis (Commack,
N.Y.) followed with a two-run single to right field to make it 3-0.
The Red Dragons answered back in the top of fifth capitalizing on
an error on a Farmingdale pick-off attempt. Sophomore catcher
Justin Fredenburg (Saugerties, N.Y.) singled down the left field to
bring the score within one.
Senior second baseman Rich Gili (Manorville, N.Y.) started the
Farmingdale seventh with a triple to the right field corner. Gili
would score on a sac fly by junior third baseman Ray Levan 
(Brentwood, N.Y), followed by a single to right center by junior
center fielder Frank Yera (Manhattan, N.Y.). Four batters later,
the Rams would scratch out a run on a pass ball. Sophomore first
baseman Kevin Curtis (Riverhead, N.Y.) brought in the final run for
Farmingdale with a single to right center.
In the ninth, Cortland brought the tying run to the plate after
run-scoring triple by junior third baseman Steve Nickel (Lake
Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) and an RBI double by sophomore left fielder Jason
Simone (Utica, N.Y.). In relief, senior Tom Heeman (Valley Stream,
N.Y.) shut down the Red Dragons offense, striking out the only two
batters he faced to end the game.
Sophomore Michael Mahay (Whitesboro, N.Y.) was charged with the
loss, going six innings while only giving up one earned run and
striking out six.
Farmingdale advances to play Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
tomorrow, May 16, at 3:30 p.m.
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