Syracuse, NY - Onondaga Baseball went head to head with the Division II Monroe Community College Tribunes, finishing the day with a split. The Lazers took game 2 after rallying back after game 1 ended in 5 innings.

The Tribunes manufactured a baserunner in the 1st inning of game 1 after two fly outs. Starting pitcher Connor Eastwood struck out the batter to end the inning and give the Lazers their first at bats. Mike Ferranti led off with a base hit for the Lazers before he was caught stealing by the Monroe catcher. The Lazers left one runner on base in the bottom of the 1st with no runs scored.

The Tribunes put a runner in scoring position after a double to right center and successful sacrifice bunt with 1 out. A popout and strikeout got the Lazers out of the inning with no damage done. Dante Santos reached first base on a drop 3rd strike after the Monroe pitcher struck out the previous two Lazer batters. A fly out to center field ended the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Jace Egenhauser took over on the mound for the Lazers in the top of the 3rd. Two singles and an error loaded up the bases with 1 out. Two walks kept the bases loaded and forced in two Monroe runs. Frank Sgroi came in to relieve Egenhauser with 1 down and bases still loaded. A sac fly got the Lazers 2 outs and Monroe's third run followed by a 3-run bomb giving the Tribunes a 6-0 lead. The Lazers had a chance to make up a few runs with runners on first and second with 2 outs after a walk and a Tribune error. Although making contact, the Lazers couldn't manufacture a run leaving two runners on and headed into the 4th still trailing 6-0.

An error scored Monroe's 7th run after a base hit single and two stolen bases. The Tribunes continued to find the gaps in the defense, bringing in Evan Stewart onto the mound for OCC, grabbing a strikeout and flyout to end the inning. A scoreless bottom of 4th for the Lazers had them still trailing 7-0 headed into the 5th.

Lucas Thelen entered the game after the Tribunes scored their 8th run. A 3-run double had the Lazers trailing 11-0. Lazer errors continued to result in runs for Monroe. Jeremiah Martin onto the mound to end the inning with a ground out and strikeout. The Lazers final ups included a base hit from Brayden Delaney followed by three outs to end the game in 5 innings, 14-0.

Carter Stewart was the starting pitcher for game 2, grabbing a quick 3 outs in the top of the 1st. Ferranti led off in the bottom of the inning with a base hit. Luis Suarez wasted no time knocking him in with an RBI double, putting the Lazers on the board first. Colin White moved Suarez over to third on a base hit of his own. A Ryan Campbell walk loaded up the bases for Nick Perrotta who scored Colin White on a sacrifice fly. The Lazers tacked on a few more with a 2-run double from Kevin Stewart and an RBI single from Jack Bushnell. The Lazers led 5-0 headed into the 2nd.

Jason Carrasco took the mound in inning 2. The Tribunes started the inning with an RBI triple, putting their first run on the board. A Lazer error allowed the second Monroe run of the inning. Carrasco grabbed a big strikeout before a left center gapper scored two more runs and put the tying run on second. A walk forced in the tying run to bring Sam Gallager onto the mound with bases loaded and 1 out. Gallager grabbed a ground out and strikeout to end the inning, Lazers trailing 6-5. The Lazers tied it up quick in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Luis Suarez after a Ferranti triple, bringing in a new pitcher for the Tribunes. Carlos Jara had a 2-run double to take back the lead. 

Gallager grabbed a pair of strikeouts and a groundout after the Tribunes led off the inning with a double, holding Monroe scoreless. The Lazers were scoreless in the 3rd also, with a base hit from Jack Bushnell.

The Tribunes made up a run in the 4th before Sam Galleger got himself a strikeout to end the inning. A Kevin Stewart sac bunt scored the Lazers' 9th run, giving them a 9-7 lead headed into the 5th.

A quick top of the 5th for Gallager got the Lazers to the bottom of the inning, still with a 9-7 lead, where Luis Suarez reached second base on a Monroe error. Colin White followed after being hit by a pitch. The Lazers hit into a double play stranding two runners and headed into the 6th leading 9-7.

Gallager pitched a clutch 6th inning grabbing a fly out, popout, and strikeout maintaining the Lazers' lead and a chance to extend it. They did just that after Nick Perrotta beat out a throw for a base hit single and Kevin Stewart pushed him over the third on a line drive ripped through the 5-6 hole. Jack Bushnell put the ball in play to score Perrotta on a fielder's choice. Joe Adamo walked to load up the bases for Ferranti. Ferranti popped out for Kevin Stewart to tag up on the throw and score run number 11.

Onondaga led in the 7th, 11-7, just having to defend in the top of the inning. Gallager, still on the mound, got the big first out on a fly ball to center field. Two base hits brought Jesse DeMaintenon in to relieve Gallager and close it out. With runners on first and second, DeMaintenon sat the next batter down with a big strikeout and one out to go. With a 7 pitch at bat to close it out, DeMaintenon got the ground out to end game 2 and take the win.

Mike Ferranti, Luis Suarez, and Jack Bushnell each had 3 hits in game 2. Sam Gallager was credited with the win with 6 strikeouts.

The Lazers are right back at it as they host Cayuga Community College Wednesday, March 19th for a doubleheader.

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