Cortland Crush's Garrett Callaghan (Ithaca College) getting ready to hit the ball. (Camilo Fredes/Cortland Voice)
The Cortland Crush made a last inning comeback at their first exhibition game of the season Wednesday night at the Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex, tying up the game 7-7 before it was called off due to severe weather conditions.
“The game plan was to come in with a solid nine-inning game,” said Cortland Crush head coach Bill McConnell. “We went from two seven-inning games to now a six-inning game because of the weather. We were able to get everybody in there to get experience playing with each other.”
Cortland’s Nicholas Pastore (SUNY Brockport) hit a single in the bottom of the first inning that later turned into a run courtesy of Stephen Bennett (Canisius College).
In the second inning, Jack Lynch (Ithaca College) hit a high double before Garrett Callaghan (Ithaca College) ran home to put the Crush up 2-0.
A triple from Pastore sent Callaghan to home plate, increasing the Crush lead to 3-0 heading into the third inning.
Rain showers came in the top of the sixth inning, and officials decided this would be the last inning of the game. Down by three, the Reds mounted a comeback, scoring 7 consecutive runs.pouring down going into the top of the sixth.
The pressure was all on Cortland, but they responded straight away.
“It shows character and how we can fight adversity,” said Coach McConnell.
Brad Nowak (SUNY Brockport) and Jonathan Triesler (Hampden-Sydney College) made it on-base, paving the way for Pastore to send the pair home off a triple and cutting the Reds lead to 7-5.
After a bad pitch from the capitals, Pastore was able to steal home.
With all bases filled by the end of the sixth, Callaghan earned a walk, tying the game at 7-7Capital City was able to stifle the Crush on the next three plays, and it all ended in stalemate.
“We are looking forward to winning the NYCBL Championship,” said Coach McConnell. “That is everything that we want to do. That is the whole goal out here. You want to develop the players, give them shots, keep them rested and healthy and ready to play to win a championship.”
