Vikings Stay Perfect with Sweep of Oakton at RussMatt Invitational

CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, March 17, 2026

The Hudson Valley Community College baseball team continued its hot start to the 2026 season on Tuesday, sweeping a doubleheader from Oakton at the RussMatt Invitational in Auburndale, Fla., to improve to 6-0 overall and 4-0 on its Florida trip.

In Game 1, Hudson Valley earned a 10-4 win by taking an early lead and never relinquishing control. Nick Commisso opened the scoring in the first inning with a sharp two-run single, giving the Vikings quick momentum. After Oakton answered with three runs in the bottom of the second to move in front, Commisso delivered again in the third with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3. The turning point came in the fifth, when Red Maron launched a three-run home run to left field to put Hudson Valley ahead 6-3 and firmly back in charge.

Right-hander Brendan Shea picked up the win on the mound, working five and two-thirds innings and allowing four runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking four. Sean Moore closed the door with an inning and a third of scoreless relief, yielding just one hit and striking out three. At the plate, the Vikings totaled nine hits, with Logan Norman and Maron each collecting two. Commisso and Maron drove in three runs apiece in the heart of the order. Hudson Valley was aggressive on the bases, swiping three bags, including two from Norman, and played clean defense without an error as catcher Michael Poltar handled a team-high 10 chances behind the plate.

Game 2 featured another offensive showcase, as Hudson Valley outlasted Oakton 16-11 in a high-scoring battle. Outfielder Robert Melo put his power on full display, belting two home runs and driving in five runs. Melo's three-run homer to center in the first inning flipped an early 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 Viking lead, with Frankie Torres adding a sacrifice fly in the frame. Melo later added a sacrifice fly in the second to break a 4-4 tie, and he capped his night with a solo home run to right in the fifth.

The Vikings continued to apply pressure throughout the lineup, finishing with 13 hits. Norman, Joshua Ortiz, and Torres each recorded multiple hits, while Nico DeSanto drove in a run in the third. Torres doubled home two runs during a four-run fourth inning that rebuilt Hudson Valley's lead after another Oakton rally. In the fifth, the Vikings pushed across five more runs on Melo's solo shot, a bases-loaded walk to Chase Morrison, a two-run single by Ortiz, and a sacrifice fly from Norman. Hudson Valley also showed patience at the plate, drawing 10 walks, with Maron earning three free passes and adding two stolen bases as the team totaled four steals and turned two double plays defensively.

On the mound, left-hander Finn Harkin earned the win in relief, throwing two and two-thirds innings and battling through five runs on six hits. Starter Connor Trudeau struck out four over two innings of work, while reliever Gebron Brunson closed out the victory to earn the save.

With the sweep, Hudson Valley remains unbeaten at 6-0 overall and 4-0 at the RussMatt Invitational. The Vikings are back in action on Wednesday in Florida, taking on Holyoke at 4:30 p.m. before a nightcap against Northern Essex at 7:00 p.m.