Auburn, NY – Sal Diaz had a game-winning sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, and the SUNY Canton baseball team earned a neutral-site season-opening 4-3 victory over the SUNY Poly Wildcats Saturday night in Auburn.

THE BASICS

• Result: SUNY Canton 4, SUNY Poly 3
• Location: Falcon Park – Auburn, NY
• Records: SUNY Canton (1-0) | SUNY Poly (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In just the second at bat of the game, Diaz launched a double down the right field line, then in the next at bat, the Roos got some help from the Poly defense as the Wildcats airmailed a throw on a routine grounder to shortstop, allowing Diaz to score from second.
• The Roos did not stop at one run either, and Lance Phillips Jr. later singled in the inning with Eliezer Vázquez on second and the top of the first finished with SUNY Canton ahead 2-0.
• The Wildcats threatened with two runners on base in the second and broke through in the third inning after a hit by pitch, a wild pitch, then a dropped flyball that ended up scoring a run.
• Poly tied it at 2-2 the following inning off a walk, a single, then a sacrifice fly as the fourth inning ended knotted up after four innings played.
• SUNY Canton immediately responded in the fifth with Zack Baiani roping a single into left center, then stealing both second and third. Diaz then hit a high ball into right field and the Wildcats took their turn at dropping a routine flyball and instead of the third out of the inning, it was the third run of the game for the Roos.
• In the bottom of the frame, the Wildcats scored in the third straight inning with a walk then a double to hang with the Roos as the teams headed into the final four innings tied at 3.
• Offense quieted down for a while, but in the top of the eighth, Diaz doubled, then Liam Hohertz reached on an error. The Roos executed a double steal but left two runners in scoring position after a flyball ended the inning.
• Freshman pitcher Ben Feil mowed down Poly in the bottom of the eighth, tossing a three-up three-down inning, and the Roos broke through in the top of the ninth.
• Jared Paone started the Roos with a pinch hit single, Baiani was plunked by a pitch, then AJ Campi walked. Diaz stepped up the plate already with two hits on the night, and did not get his third, but still delivered with a one-out sacrifice fly to plate the fourth run of the game as the Roos earned the advantage in the top of the ninth.
• The Wildcats started the bottom of the ninth with a base hit single down the left field line and moved the runner over with a sacrifice bunt. However, Feil got the final two batters to fly out lazily to center field and the Roos prevailed in the neutral site opener.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Diaz led the Roos offense with two doubles, an RBI, plus the game-winning sacrifice fly. Baiani also recorded two hits and stole three bases during the freshman's first collegiate game.
• Zander Johnson finished with six strong innings, allowing just two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Feil pitched three scoreless innings with two hits and two punchouts, earning the win in his first college game.
• Johnny Yamin finished as the only Wildcat with two hits. Jack Montanye had a very strong start for SUNY Poly with seven innings, allowing five hits, and only one earned run.
• The Roos finished with seven hits while the Wildcats had six. Poly kicked the ball around quite a bit with four errors. Each team scored two earned runs in the contest.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Roos will have some time off before heading to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina over SUNY Canton's spring break. The Roos will play eight games in the Palmetto State starting with Elmira on Saturday, March 7 at 10 a.m.   
   

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.