KINGS POINT, N.Y. – No. 2 SUNY Old Westbury baseball (13-6, 9-3 Skyline) took on first-seeded United States Merchant Marine Academy Mariners (16-3, 12-3 Skyline) in the 2021 Skyline Conference Championship finals but dropped a dramatic 3-2 decision in 10 innings from Raymond J. Bartoszek Field in Kings Point, N.Y. on Sunday afternoon. 

In the top of the second inning, the Panthers broke the scoring ice as Sean Paprocki (1-for-3, RBI, BB) grounded out and allowed Drew Robertson to touch home and put Old Westbury in the lead (1-0). 

In the home half of the second, the Mariners responded with an RBI single to center field by James McCann (2-for-3, RBI, BB) off of Panther starter Justin Aviles (ND: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, K) that plated Jack Millen to knot the game at one apiece.

In the top of the third frame Old Westbury regained the lead on a RBI single to left field off the bat of Shaun Kaminski (3-for-5, RBI) off of Mariner starter Ben Kane (ND: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) that brought home John Dell'Olio to give the Panthers a 2-1 edge.

In the bottom of the third, USMMA countered with a solo home run by Joey Zanetti that cleared the left field fence to tie the game at two.

After the third, both starters settled down and were locked in a pitcher's duel as neither would allow a run in the next two innings which would set the stage for the relief pitchers.

In the top of the sixth inning, Oscar Fajardo knocked a single to center field off of Mariner relief pitcher Billy Todd (ND: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 K) but the Panthers were unable to score a run off of Todd. 

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Joe Sarni (L, 2-1: 3.2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, K) took the mound and inherited a runner on first base but averted danger and got out of the inning unscathed.

In the top of the ninth frame, Andrew Hunt (W, 2-0: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) loaded the bases on three walks which brought up Dell'Olio with two outs who would strikeout swinging which ultimately sent the game to extras.

In the bottom of the 10th inning with two outs, Garrett Aichele stepped up to the plate against Sarni and hit a walk-off solo home run over the right center field fence to power the Mariners to the Skyline Conference Baseball title by a final of 3-2. 

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