The Spartans looked to stay above .500 Friday, visiting the Cortland Crush with a record of 14-14 against the 18-8 Crush ballclub. Aaron Colle got the nod for the Spartans, and Kevin Worek once again for the Crush. Your final score ultimately ended up being a 4-2 win for the Cortland Crush.

It looked to be a pitcher’s duel again, both teams held scoreless through the first two innings. Cole had some trouble early, working out of a bases loaded jam in his first and second frames. 

Max Mims opened up the scoring for the Crush, lining a right-center field solo shot, scoring the lone run for the ballgame in the third inning. While Worek remained blanking the Spartans, the Crush added on more offense the following inning in the fourth. A lead-off single from Tyler Gendron, then singles from Dominick Ramous, Max Mims (2 RBI), and Zach Marriott (1 RBI), capped off a 3-run fourth inning. 

Aaron Cole finished his outing with a scoreless 5th inning for the Spartans. He finished with 5.0 IP, 4 ER, and 6 H. Jack Clifford replaced him in the 6th. 

Before Clifford’s appearance, they finally tacked on their first runs in the 4th and 5th innings. Bryce Moore made it all the way around in the 4th after a lead-off single, and a handful of wild pitches. The 5th inning run came when Noah Roots drove Michael Perales home with an RBI single, Perales getting aboard with a walk. 

That made it a 4-2 ballgame for the Crush, mid-way through. LHP Connor Carr-Matthews threw a scoreless 6th inning, then RHP Greg Ferguson came in right after for the crush, throwing a scoreless 7th inning. 

The Spartans threatened in the 8th, with Jimmy Legg finding himself on second after a lead-off single. But RHP Greg Ferguson just fought his way through, striking out Perry Chetney to keep it a 4-2 lead. 

Meanwhile, that sent it to the bottom of the 8th, where relief pitcher Jack Clifford entered his third inning of work. He sat them down 1-2-3, sending it to the Spartans’ final chance in the top of the 9th. 

  Alex Meesig – the usual closer – came in for the save for the Crush. JC Ng was subbed in, and started things off with a lead-off double. With two outs, Noah Roots got aboard with a HBP, representing the tying run. That brought up Camden New, representing the go-ahead run and last life for the Spartans. On a swinging strikeout, it solidified a record for the Spartans now at 14-15, losing 4-2.