Khyle Dimino led No. 1 seeded Cortland with two hits in their 9-5 win over Rensselaer in the NCAA, Division III baseball playoff game at Falcon Park Fiday.
It wasn't until the eighth inning that the Red Dragons took the lead as the score was tied at five.
The Red Dragons then went on a four run tear.
With one out and Steve Nickel on third, it was Dimino's single brought him in to score the winning run for the Red Dragons. Dimino was later advanced to third on a sacrifice hit, which helped the Red Dragons make a two-out rally. Matt Vitalone knocked in a two-run single.
Even with a new Rensselaer pitcher, the Red Dragons' Andersen Gardner picked up an RBI double for the final score.
In the bottom of the eighth, Rensselaer had an opportunity to come back, but with two outs and a runner on the bags, they were unable to sustain any momentum.
In the ninth, Rensselaer again picked up a hit and left one on base to end its chances for a comeback.
Both teams left nine runners stranded, but Rensselaer finished with 11 hits while the Red Dragons mustered eight. Travis Ratliff got the start for the Red Dragons and went just over four innings, giving up seven hits, five earned runs and one strikeout.
Ryan Hooper finished the night, giving up four hits and fanning seven.
He also picked up his fourth win on the year.
Mike Cieszko picked up the loss for Rensselaer as he tossed just one inning.
He allowed two key hits and four runs scored, while walking two and striking out one.
Earlier in the day, seconded-seeded Ithaca was eliminated in the tournament with a 7-6 loss to Montclair State.
Montclair State gave the Bombers their second loss of the playoffs in the double-elimination format.
Ed Kloepping scored the winning run for the Montclair State in the top of the ninth.
He led off the inning with a triple and on the next at-bat scored one a Steve Piscitello's sacrifice fly.
The two squads combined for a six-run first inning. In the fourth inning however, Mountclair State earned a 6-4 lead on a single by Jeff Miller.
Miller ended the game with four singles and an RBI, while also stealing a base.
The Bombers gave up 14 hits and left nine runners on base. Ithaca designated hitter Shane Wolf smacked a one-out base hit in the bottom of the ninth to try and rally the Bombers back, but Michael Vitale came in and earned the save for Montclair State.
In the second game of the day, Eastern Connecticut scored four runs in the fifth inning to defeat Ohio Wesleyan 5-1.
The Battling Bishops are also eliminated from the tournament.
Rensselaer awaits the winner of the Eastern Connecticut and Montclair State game, and Cortland will await their opponent for the championship game today.
If the Red Dragons win in their 5 p.m. game, they will win the tournament title.
The Red Dragons then went on a four run tear.
With one out and Steve Nickel on third, it was Dimino's single brought him in to score the winning run for the Red Dragons. Dimino was later advanced to third on a sacrifice hit, which helped the Red Dragons make a two-out rally. Matt Vitalone knocked in a two-run single.
Even with a new Rensselaer pitcher, the Red Dragons' Andersen Gardner picked up an RBI double for the final score.
In the bottom of the eighth, Rensselaer had an opportunity to come back, but with two outs and a runner on the bags, they were unable to sustain any momentum.
In the ninth, Rensselaer again picked up a hit and left one on base to end its chances for a comeback.
Both teams left nine runners stranded, but Rensselaer finished with 11 hits while the Red Dragons mustered eight. Travis Ratliff got the start for the Red Dragons and went just over four innings, giving up seven hits, five earned runs and one strikeout.
Ryan Hooper finished the night, giving up four hits and fanning seven.
He also picked up his fourth win on the year.
Mike Cieszko picked up the loss for Rensselaer as he tossed just one inning.
He allowed two key hits and four runs scored, while walking two and striking out one.
Earlier in the day, seconded-seeded Ithaca was eliminated in the tournament with a 7-6 loss to Montclair State.
Montclair State gave the Bombers their second loss of the playoffs in the double-elimination format.
Ed Kloepping scored the winning run for the Montclair State in the top of the ninth.
He led off the inning with a triple and on the next at-bat scored one a Steve Piscitello's sacrifice fly.
The two squads combined for a six-run first inning. In the fourth inning however, Mountclair State earned a 6-4 lead on a single by Jeff Miller.
Miller ended the game with four singles and an RBI, while also stealing a base.
The Bombers gave up 14 hits and left nine runners on base. Ithaca designated hitter Shane Wolf smacked a one-out base hit in the bottom of the ninth to try and rally the Bombers back, but Michael Vitale came in and earned the save for Montclair State.
In the second game of the day, Eastern Connecticut scored four runs in the fifth inning to defeat Ohio Wesleyan 5-1.
The Battling Bishops are also eliminated from the tournament.
Rensselaer awaits the winner of the Eastern Connecticut and Montclair State game, and Cortland will await their opponent for the championship game today.
If the Red Dragons win in their 5 p.m. game, they will win the tournament title.
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