The Albany Dutchmen split a modified doubleheader with the Amsterdam Mohawks on Friday night, picking up a victory in a suspended game, 5-2, and dropping a full nine-inning game by a score of 2-1. The Game One victory was the 100th Dutchmen victory for head coach Nick Davey.
The Dutchmen picked up a victory in the opener, a game that picked up in the top of the fifth inning in a 2-2 tie. Albany sent Austin Goeke (Wagner) to the mound to pick up the game, and he struck out John Razzino (Franklin Pierce) to end the inning.
Danny Hrbek started the Dutchmen offense in the bottom of the fifth with a single. He stole second base, and took third when the throw down to second ricocheted off the pitcher and rolled into left field. Adam Lee (Lipscomb) provided what proved to be the winning run with a double into the right center field gap. Lee would then score on a wild pitch to extend the Albany lead to 4-2.
After Goeke worked a scoreless sixth inning, the Dutchmen put another run on the board in the bottom half. With one out, Demetrius Webb (Indiana) blooped a double down the left field line. He moved over to third on a Dave Vaccaro (Radford) flyout, and would score on a passed ball.
Kyle Zurak (Radford) pitched the seventh inning, and picked up his fourth save, his second in as many days.
Goeke was awarded the victory, and Zack Brown (Kentucky) was charged with the loss.
The two teams combined to score the same amount of runs — 3— in the next nine innings as they had in the previous three.
The scoring began in the top of the second inning, when the Mohawks plated a run. Razzino began the inning with a walk, and JaVon Shelby (Kentucky) singled. Razzino was thrown out trying to steal third by Jake Hanson (Valparaiso), while Shelby moved to second. Shelby would score on an RBI single by Alex Debellis (Lynn).
The Amsterdam lead was extended to 2-0 in the third inning. Marcus Carson (Kentucky) started the inning with a single, and Jonathan Pryor (Wake Forest) reached on an error. A single by Josh Gardiner (Radford) drove in Carson, but Pryor was stranded on third.
Albany rallied for a run in the bottom half of the inning, which was started by a Vaccaro single. Sean Aspinall (Azusa Pacific) drove in his seventh run in the last two days with a single.
That completed the game’s scoring, as the two teams’ starters — Albany’s Spencer Hotaling (Susquehanna) and Amsterdam’s Ryan Clark (UNC Greensboro) tossed stellar outings. Hotaling picked up a tough-luck loss, as he tossed seven innings with five strikeouts. Zach Breen (Barton) was awarded a two-inning save for Amsterdam.
After an off day on Saturday, the Dutchmen will battle the Elmira Pioneers at Bellizzi Field on Sunday. It is PGCBL All-Star Recognition Night, as the Dutchmen will honor their five all star selections. It is also Family Funday, where 14 dollars can purchase four tickets and four food vouchers.
