WATERTOWN, NY- The Watertown Rams (15-11) used two big innings to defeat the Glens Falls Golden Eagles (10-15), 14-5, at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds on Saturday night. Dalton D’Spain (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) picked up the win for the Rams while Williams Durruthy (Florida International) took the loss for Glens Falls.
Glens Falls struck first in the game, scoring an unearned run in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Watertown responded with a six spot in the home half of the inning. Chris Gaetano (Monmouth) delivered a sacrifice fly to get the scoring started in the inning. A Drew Hercik (East Stroudsburg) fielder’s choice scored another and the next batter, Jason Scholl (Eastern Illinois), produced a 2-RBI single to right field. Scholl came around to score on a 2-RBI single by James Bonds (San Diego), which concluded the scoring in the inning.
The Golden Eagles responded in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs to pull within a run at 6-5. After Nick Bernardo (Maine) tripled to right center and Danny Oliver (Triton) walked and stole second, JQ Folena (Cabrillo) drove them in with a single to left field. Brennan Price (Felician) followed with a 2-RBI double to left center, scoring Folena and Mark Powell (Bucknell), who had walked earlier in the inning.
The score would remain 6-5 until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Rams offense erupted for eight runs. Shane Servoss (Skagit Valley) singled home the first run of the inning, Matt Diorio (Central Florida) walked with the bases loaded to bring home another, Joe Ogren (Bucknell) hit his second double of the game, this one scoring two runs. After Gaetano walked, Dominic Lopez (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) singled up the middle to score two runs. Hercik followed with an RBI single of his own. The final line of the inning: 8 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
The bullpen combination of Javi Villanueva (Skagit Valley), Jake Sale (Parkland) and Jon Escobar (Holy Cross) sealed the win for the Rams. They relieved Dalton D’Spain who went six innings and allowed five runs (four earned) while striking out nine Golden Eagles hitters. The start was the last of the season for D’Spain, as he will return home to Texas. The right-hander finishes his season with a 3-1 record, a 3.48 ERA, 28 strikeouts in 33.2 innings, and a .162 batting average against, best in the PGCBL.
Glens Falls starter Williams Durruthy went 3.1 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) in taking the loss. Durruthy is now 2-2 on the season and has an ERA of 4.32.
James Bonds led the Watertown attack, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Joe Ogren finished the night 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Brennan Price and Nick Bernardo each had two hits on the night for Glens Falls.
The attendance at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds was announced at 2,128. It was the largest crowd of the season for the Rams and fireworks followed the game in celebration of July 4.
With the win and an Elmira win against Albany, the Rams and the Pioneers remain tied for first place in the PGCBL West Division.
Watertown remains at home on Sunday, playing host to the Utica Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Glens Falls has two nights off before returning to action on Tuesday with a double-header in Utica. First pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
