NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Mike Harrington (Glens Falls) tossed a complete game shutout, including a career-high 11 strikeouts, in a seven-inning contest as nationally sixth-ranked Cortland defeated New Paltz, 5-0, to complete a doubleheader sweep over the Hawks on the road. Cortland captured the nine-inning opener, 6-3, and has now won 20 consecutive games.

With four regular-season SUNYAC games remaining, Cortland (28-6, 13-1 SUNYAC) holds a two and a half game lead over second-place Oswego (10-3). The Red Dragons and New Paltz will complete their three-game series Sunday with a single nine-inning game at 12 p.m. Cortland is also scheduled to play a non-league game Monday at Hamilton and will close the regular season with a three-game set at Oswego next weekend.

Cortland 6, New Paltz 3

Cortland jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning highlighted by a Justin Teague (North Syracuse/Cicero-North Syracuse) RBI double along with a sacrifice fly from Patrick Schetter (Beacon) and an RBI groundout by Matthew Personius (Binghamton/Chenango Valley).

Colin BeVard (Syracuse/West Genesee) had his second hit in as many at bats in the second with an RBI single to stretch the lead to four, and the Red Dragons added their fifth run on a balk in the third. BeVard finished 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored and Matt Michalski (Buffalo/St. Francis) was 2-for-4.

New Paltz cut into the lead with single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings on RBI singles by Chris Moran and Ryan Frost along with a run scoring error to cut the Cortland lead to 5-3.

Starter Christian Dufresne (Cocoa, FL/Space Coast) allowed two runs on three hits in three and two thirds innings for the Red Dragons. He struck out three and walked four. Steven Salisbury (Cranston, RI/Moses Brown) earned the win in relief by pitching three innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Isiah Hudson (Hyde Park/FDR) came in with two down in the seventh and went the rest of the way for the seven-out save, his first of the year. With an inherited runner on first, he walked the first batter he faced to bring the potential lead-run to the plate before retiring the final seven batters. Cortland added insurance in the ninth by way of a Teague RBI fielder's choice.

Luke Christy took the loss for the Hawks. He allowed five runs and seven hits in two and a third innings, surrendering a pair of walks with three strikeouts. Dwayne Page and Nick DePietro each finished 2-for-4 with a run scored for New Paltz.

Cortland 5, New Paltz 0

Cortland scored early again with a run in the first, complemented by a four-spot in the second as Harrington improved to 7-0 and increased his shutout streak to 15 and a third innings. He allowed three hits and two walks. In the third inning, he surrendered a single and a double but was able to escape the jam with one of his 11 punch-outs and an inning-ending groundout.

The Red Dragons plated one in the first on the strength of consecutive singles by Antonio Pragana (Hopewell Junction/John Jay) and BeVard to start the inning and a run-scoring double play groundout. Pragana led Cortland offensively with a 3-for-4 line including an RBI and two runs scored.

Garrett Heaton (East Patchogue/Bellport), Pragana, and Teague each contributed RBI singles in the second, sandwiched around a wild pitch that allowed Pragana to score, as the lead grew to five. Heaton, Joe Tardif (Cutchogue/Mattituck) and Michalski each finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Michael Delio pitched six innings and surrendered five runs on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts for New Paltz (13-14, 6-7 SUNYAC). After allowing the five runs through an inning and two thirds, he retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced and gave way to John LoCurto, who retired the side in order in the seventh.

(Recap by Cortland sports information student intern Kyle Lancto)