FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – SUNY Old Westbury baseball (7-2, 6-2 Skyline) split a Skyline Conference doubleheader against the Farmingdale State College Rams (10-7, 9-5 Skyline) on the road by winning the opening matchup 3-1 but dropped the second game in a 6-3 decision on Saturday.

Game 1 (8 Inn.): Old Westbury 3, Farmingdale State 1

Panther starter Tim Woodford (W, 2-0: 8 IP, CG, 5 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 6 K) and Ram starter Joe Marino (ND: 6 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 6 K) were locked in a pitchers' duel through the first three innings as both pitcher refused to surrender a run.

In the top of the fourth frame, the Panthers got on the board first as Drew Robertson hit a sacrifice fly to center field that brought home Brandon Wilson.

In the home half of the sixth inning, the Rams registered their first run of the game on a single up the middle by Jordan Lambert to knot the game at one apiece which would ultimately send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, Mike Manetta smacked a solo home run off of Ram relief pitcher Thomas Messina (L, 0-2: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) that sailed over the right field fence to break the tie and give Old Westbury a 2-1 edge. Later in the inning, Shaun Kaminski contributed with a single up the middle that brought home Nic Labiento to add an insurance run to their total (3-1).

In the home half of the eighth, Woodford closed out the game strong as he set down the Rams in order to secure his complete game while leading the Panthers to a 3-1 victory. 

Game 2: Farmingdale State 6, Old Westbury 3

The Rams broke the scoring ice in the bottom of the second inning as Panther starter Eddie Guzman (L, 1-1: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 8 K) misfired on a wild pitch that walked Vincent Napolitano and allowed Jordan Lambert to touch home for the first run of the game. The Rams would add two more runs in the inning including a double to center field off the bat of Jack Altieri (2-for-2, RBI) to extend their lead to three (3-0).

In the top of the third inning, Mike Manetta powered a solo home run over the right field fence off of Ram starter Stephen Clancy (ND: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 6 K) to cut Old Westbury's deficit to two (3-1). 

Labiento sparked a two-out rally in the top of the sixth inning as he smacked a double to right center field that scored Oscar Fajardo and brought the Panthers within one (3-2). The next hitter, Patrick Schriffen got on base on an error by the first baseman, Lambert, to tie the game at three.

The Rams compiled a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning that was highlighted by a two-run single to right field by Chris Driscoll (2-for-3, 2 RBI, R) to give the Rams a three-run cushion (6-3).

Farmingdale State relief pitcher Michael Schock (W, 1-0: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, BB, K) would retire the Panthers in order in the final inning to seal the 6-3 decision.
 

UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: SUNY Old Westbury baseball (7-2, 6-2 Skyline) continues its series at home against the Farmingdale State College Rams (10-7, 9-5 Skyline) with a twinbill on Sunday (Apr. 25) at 2:30 p.m. in Farmingdale, N.Y.  

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