A great start from Kyle Peryer and another strong day at the plate helped the Cayuga Community College Spartans earn a second split with the #6 Surry Knights on Saturday.
The Spartans dropped Saturday’s opener 14-6 but responded with a 9-4 win in the nightcap to open the season 2-2 against the Knights, who competed at the 2025 NJCAA Division III World Series at Falcon Park and entered the season ranked sixth nationally. The teams also split a doubleheader Friday.
“We wanted to challenge ourselves early this year, and we did that by opening the season against Surry. They’re a great opponent. We had some strong performances to build on, and had opportunities to win all four games but couldn’t capitalize. When you’re playing a team of that caliber, they make you pay for your mistakes,” said Coach John Rizzo. “We’re playing another national powerhouse next in SUNY Niagara Thunderwolves. We’ll make adjustments from these games and continue to grow.”
Cayuga held a brief lead in the opener when Eathen Yoon doubled home Jakson Ross and Jeremy Recio in the first, but Surry answered in the bottom half of the inning. The Spartans added a run in the second on Ross’s RBI single and two more in the third on a two-RBI sacrifice fly by Tristan Sierra.
Yoon and Recio finished with two hits and a run scored in the first game, with Yoon and Sierra each driving in two runs.
In the second game, the Spartans did all their damage in the first two innings, scoring twice in the first on a double by Ben Hatfield and erupting for seven runs in the second. Recio’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly opened the inning, followed by Tyler Black’s two-run single and an RBI double by Sierra.
The nine runs were more than enough for Peryer, who allowed one earned run on two hits over five innings. Ross, Sierra and Joshua Lightburn each had two hits, with Lightburn blasting a double and a triple while driving in three runs. Hatfield and Black finished with two RBIs apiece, and Ross and Yoon each scored twice.
The Spartans’ home opener is scheduled for Sunday against #4 SUNY Niagara.
