Baseball earns tough wins in weekend slate

VINELAND - RCSJ-Cumberland Baseball entered last weekend with a tough slate of games.  Starting on Friday, the Dukes hosted Jamestown CC for a four game slate with Tompkins Cortland visiting the Vineland campus on Sunday for two games.

In the series opener against the Jamestown CC Jayhawks, the Dukes out-hit the visitors as Kory Jenkins and Tyler Bunting each collected two hits.  Unfortunately, the Jayhawks chased starter Joey Gallagher as they rattled off 6 first inning runs to take a 6-0 lead.  The Dukes would climb back within a run after scoring 4 in their half of the first inning and one more in the second inning.  After giving up a run in the top of the 6th, the Dukes would plate two in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game at 7 as Jimmy Gallo would draw a bases-loaded walk and Vin Bognanni would be hit by pitch to drive in another run.  Defensive miscues in the top of the 8th would befall the Dukes as they dropped game 1 9-7.

Redemption came quick for the Dukes in game 2 as they scored 9 runs in the 2nd inning in large part to the Dukes protecting the plate and being hit by 4 pitches and drawing 4 walks during the inning.  Kyle Kennedy earned the first start of his career as he went the distance (5 IP) striking out 5 and walking just one batter.  The Dukes would score the 10th run on a Tyler Schoppe single to score Joey Lang.

In game 3 the Dukes would face a two-run deficit after the top of the 1st, but they would explode for 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st with Tyler Bunting driving in two of the 6 runs.  The Dukes would blow the game open in the 4th innings as they scored 9 runs highlighted by a 2-run single by Tyler Bunting and an RBI double from David Rodriguez.  The big blow came Brinden Floyd as he deposited a deep 3-run HR over the left field fence.  Austin Wokock earned his second win of the season going 5 innings and striking out 3 in the 19-4 Dukes win.

Game 1 against Tompkins Cortland saw the Dukes blitz the visiting Panthers scoring in every inning culminating in a 6-run 4th inning.  David Rodriguez and Brinden Floyd each drove in two runs for Cumberland on a frigid Sunday afternoon.  Ryan Beebe received his first start of his collegiate career and scattered 9 hits over 5 innings striking out 7 in the 11-5 victory.

The full weekend eventually caught up to the Dukes in Game 2 against the Panthers as Tompkins Cortland used a pair of 5-run innings to sink the Dukes 12-3.