Anna Maria Loses Cat Fight to SUNY Poly

AUBURNDALE, Florida – After two days off in Florida the AMCAT baseball team took on the SUNY Poly Wildcats Wednesday evening in Central Florida. Coming off a sweep of Martin Luther on Sunday, the 'Cats were looking to continue their winning ways. The Wildcats had other plans.

The AMCATS got a two-hit performance from freshman designated hitter Justin Robbins (Leominster, Mass) who had a single and a double in three at-bats. Shortstop Jeff Falk (Endfield, Conn) drove in the only run of the game for the 'Cats. Scoring that run was Noah Holland (Sandwich, Mass) who was one-for-three in the game with a walk.

SUNY Poly's "AMCAT Killer" Wednesday night was Connor Maderson. Maderson went four-for-six with a triple, three runs batted in and a run scored. Dalton Earle had four hits of his own, including a double, two RBI while also crossing the plate twice. With three hits in the game, Sebastian Pannuto drove in a run and scored two of his own.

The game started with the Wildcats scoring four runs in the first inning off starting pitcher Tanner Jakola (Leominster, Mass) who was able to settle down in his second inning of work.

The AMCATS would grab a run back in the second, which would prove to be their only run in the game, on Falk's single that scored Holland.

The third inning could have been another big one offensively for SUNY Poly. They scored one run and with things looking grim, AMCAT right fielder Jason Shell (Sandwich, Mass) threw out a runner at home to keep the deficit at four runs, 5-1.

The middle innings were fairly slow as the pitching settled in for both sides. Nick Genatossio (Sutton, Mass) came in to the game in relief, his first appearance on the mound this season, and gave the 'Cats a 4.2 inning effort that included just three hits and a game-high six strikeouts.

Up 5-1 going in to the eighth, the Wildcats offense awoke once again as the added two runs on Menderson's single to go up 7-1. The AMCATS were unable to answer and the game went to the ninth with AMC trailing by six.

In the top of the ninth, Poly scored two more runs. Anna Maria's hitters would ground out and strike out. Down to their last out, AMC sophomore Jacob Zamora (Alachua, Fla) reached on an error and then advanced to second on a second error. Being aggressive, down nine, senior Trevor Brown (Gardner, Mass) singled and Zamora was sent home where he was thrown out to end the game, 10-1, in favor of the Wildcats.

Anna Maria will be back on the field tomorrow afternoon beginning at 2:15pm when they take on Worcester foe WPI in a double header in Auburndale, Florida.