SYRACUSE –– The Cortland Crush came out on the losing end against the Syracuse Salt Cats for the third consecutive game, as the Crush let the Salt Cats get up early and never climbed back, falling 9-3 Friday at Onondaga Community College. The Crush are now 1-5-1 against the Salt Cats this season and 7-13-1 overall.
Cortland starting pitcher Abixael Sosa (Thomas Jefferson University) struggled early, as he allowed four runs on no hits in the bottom of the first. Sosa had command issues right from the start, hitting the first three batters he faced. He then threw two wild pitches, walked two batters and a passed ball that led to three runs from Syracuse before an out was recorded. After Sosa got the first out of the inning, the Salt Cats put one more run across on an RBI groundout.
Sosa threw a scoreless second inning, but his struggles continued in the third as he allowed two runners to reach base on a walk and hit by pitch before being pulled from the game. Hunter Harmon (Mohawk Valley Community College) then came in and allowed a two-run single to give Syracuse a 6-0 lead.
Though Harmon was not responsible for the runs in the third inning, he allowed two runs of his own on three hits in the fourth to put the Salt Cats up eight.
Connor Furst (SUNY Brockport) and Benjamin Ryan (Juniata College) also threw in relief for Cortland, with Furst allowing one run in two innings and Ryan throwing a scoreless eighth inning.
Cortland managed to get three runs on the board against Syracuse, but the offense was not able to get anything going. The Salt Cats threw a combined no-hitter, with starting pitcher Sam Peterson tossing 6.2 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out four. Johansel Brito then threw 2.1 innings and allowed one run while striking out two. The reason the Crush were able to get some runs across was by getting runners on base from working walks. Peterson finished with six walks and Brito had one.
Carson Molinaroli (Anderson University) scored the first run for Cortland in the fifth. After working a walk, Molinaroli stole second and third base and scored on a passed ball. Molinaroli also scored in the seventh, as he reached on an error, stole second and third base again and scored on an RBI groundout from Joseph Yovino (Elon University).
Cortland scored its final run in the ninth after Nick Mahar (SUNY Brockport) worked a walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Ryne McKinney (Capital University).
The Crush play again at 6 p.m. today at Basket Road Field in Webster against the Rochester Ridgemen.
