AUBURN, N.Y. – Host and top seeded SUNY Cortland broke open a 3-3 game by scattering six runs over four hits in the sixth innings en route to posting a 12-4 decision over fifth ranked Keene State College in a winner’s bracket contest in the NCAA Division III Championship Auburn (NY) Regional at Falcon Park.

The Red Dragons (34-8-1) remain unbeaten in tournament play with a 2-0 record and will face the winner of the second winner’s bracket contest between St. John Fisher and Farmingdale State College on Friday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m. The Owls (27-16-1) will take on SUNY Oneonta in the day’s opening game at 10 a.m.

Cortland senior designated hitter Kevin Jackson (WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) led all batters, going 4-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and two runs batted in. Jackson sparked the Red Dragon sixth inning, in which the entire lineup batted around. He scored the eventual game winner with a single through the left side with one out to score senior first baseman John Zilnicki (RIVERHEAD, NY/Riverhead), who got on base with a triple, then scored from third on a balk two batters later.

Junior left fielder Jason Simone (UTICA, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) capped off the scoring in the inning with a two RBI, bases-loaded double. Seniors Khyle Dimino (BRIGHTON, NY/Brighton) and Andersen Gardner (FAIRPORT, NY/Fairport) scored off of the hit, while senior Steve Nickel (LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY/Sachem North) added a run on a Keene error in left field.

Gardner and Simone each hit 2-for-4, with Gardner scoring three times with an RBI and Simone finishing with three RBI. Simone stretched his hitting streak to 16 games, while sophomore second baseman Matt June (COLONIE,NY/Colonie) batted 1-for5 with an RBI and a run scored, extending his hitting streak to 22 games.

Junior first baseman Tyler DiPrato (SUFFIELD, CT/Suffield) went 3-for-5 with an RBI to lead the Owls, who amassed 11 hits. DiPrato gave Keene its only lead in the fourth inning on a one-out RBI double.

Seniors Jesse Cahill (CRANSTON, RI/Cranston East) and Keith Patnode (KEENE,NH/Keene). and junior Peter Burgio (BOLTON, CT/Bolton) each recorded a pair of hits, with Patnode scoring a run and Burgio adding a run and an RBI.

Sophomore Brendan Hourihan (YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY/Lakeland) garnered the win in relief for Cortland, pitching five and two-thirds innings with three hits, a walk, and six strikeouts. Kyle Davis took the loss for Keene, allowing eight hits and five runs in five and a third innings.