The Syracuse Spartans scored two runs in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings, but fell short as the Cortland Crush took a 5-4 win in extra innings.

The Spartans struck first as Sammy Lee continued his hot hitting for Syracuse. His RBI double gave the Spartans an immediate 1-0 lead for the Spartans to settle into. Luke Boule, Syracuse’s starting pitcher, responded with nine strikeouts, a season high. However, Cortland grabbed runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 2-1 lead. The Crush found two more runs in the eighth for extra insurance and a 4-1 lead.

It would turn out that Cortland needed that insurance as the Spartans started a comeback attempt in the bottom of the eighth. Lee launched the first home run at home for the Spartans this season with a bullet solo shot over the left field fence to make it a 4-2 ball game. Then the Spartans rallied in the ninth to tie the ball game. Syracuse recorded four hits, with RBI singles from Matt Alexander and Lee to tie the contest at 4-4.

That would be it for the Spartans however as Cortland scored a run in the 10th inning to take a 5-4 lead. Syracuse went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 10th to end the game.

Lee raised his batting average to .464 and his RBI total to 16, which both lead the Spartans this season. 

The next Spartans game is on July 4 at home at the OCC Baseball Complex against the Syracuse Salt Cats. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.