FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Cortland overcame Farmingdale’s 10-3 advantage in hits and defeated the Rams, 4-2, in the winner’s bracket final of the NCAA Div. III baseball regional at the Farmingdale State Baseball Complex. The Red Dragons (38-7-1) won their 21st straight game and are one victory away from earning a trip to the NCAA Div. III World Series. Cortland will play Saturday at noon versus Farmingdale, which defeated Ithaca, 4-3 in 10 innings, in Friday's final game. If the Red Dragons lose, a final “winner-take-all” game between the teams will follow.

Mike Hughes (Albany) went seven and two-thirds innings for his eighth win in 10 decisions this spring. He allowed 10 hits and three walks but only two runs and struck out four. Brendan Hourihan (Yorktown Heights/Lakeland) entered with two outs in the top of the eighth and the bases loaded. He induced a flyout to the end the inning and retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save of the year.

Dominick Morelli, the first of two Farmingdale relievers, took the loss. He gave up two hits and two walks and struck out three in four-plus innings. Only one of the three runs he allowed was earned. Mike Dolce started but was relieved in the second inning after giving up one hit, four walks and one run.

Cortland led 1-0 in the bottom of the first when Brian Barry (Smithtown/Smithtown East) walked with one out, stole second with two outs and scored on Andrew Pezzuto’s (Hastings) double to left center. Farmingdale knotted the game in the third. Matthew Zsevc singled and was bunted to second. Thomas Rydzewski then singled, but Cortland rightfielder Zack Graczyk (Carmel) threw out Zsevc at home for the second out. Rydzewski advanced to second on the throw and scored on Anthony Alvino’s single up the middle.

Red Dragon catcher Tim Panetta (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) doubled to lead off the bottom of the fourth and moved to third on a Graczyk sacrifice bunt. Bryan Mistretta (Commack) drove home Panetta with a sacrifice fly to left. Cortland added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Max Rosing (Rockville Centre/South Side) drew a two-out walk. Michael LaTempa (LaGrangeville/Arlington) reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed Rosing to score, and LaTempa came in on a wild pitch.

Farmingdale’s eighth inning started with an Edward Bergmann leadoff single. He went to second on a groundout and to third on an Alvino single. Alvino was caught stealing, but Bergmann scored on the play and the Rams were within 4-2. A Terrence Bohonan walk and singles by Frank Scarlato and Ryan McAllister loaded the bases to knock out Hughes, with Hourihan getting the flyout to end the threat.

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