By: Joshua Krizar
July 25, 2023
(ALBANY, NY)– The Albany Dutchmen (20-19) defeated the Glens Falls Dragons (13-24) 13-1 in seven innings Tuesday night. The Dutchmen scored three runs in the fifth inning to take a twelve-run lead allowing them to mercy the Dragons after two shutout innings of relief from Austin Trumpour (SNHU). This is the second run-rule win the Dutchmen have had against the Dragons at Dutchmen Field, and the second consecutive run-rule victory for the Dutchmen after their 12-0 victory in Glens Falls this past Friday. Dutchmen pitcher Grant Smeltzer (Fairfield) picked up his second win of the season after a five inning effort.
The Dutchmen struck first in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by JT Vance (Mississippi College) to score Will Binder (UAlbany). Vance would later score in the inning on a bases loaded walk drawn by Korson Hastings (Trinity).
Albany picked up right where they left off in the second, picking up an additional run. Vince Venditti (St. Rose) would draw a one-out walk, and after stealing a league-tying 29th base of the summer, would score on Binder’s RBI double.
After a scoreless third, the Dragons’ lone run was scored in the fourth inning. Odilio Cespedes (Bryant and Stratton) led off with a walk, and after moving to third on a Johan Sandoval (Bryant and Stratton) single and wild pitch, Cespedes would score on an RBI groundout by Zander Teator (Babson).
The Dutchmen’s big offensive explosion came in the fourth inning when they scored seven runs. The inning started out with three straight singles by Hastings, Nick Plue (Cortland), and Josh Foglia (Saint Rose) to load the bases with no outs. Hastings and Plue would score on an error in the inning, and Foglia would score on another RBI hit by Binder. Vance would register an RBI double to score Mario Cubello (St. John Fisher/Transfer Portal), while Austin Francis (NJIT) would follow with a two-RBI double scoring Binder and Vance, and Francis would come around to score to make it 10-1.
In the fifth inning Binder reached base for the fourth time of the night when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Foglia. The other two runs in the inning were scored by a Tyler Kipp (Fairfield) sacrifice fly and Venditti stealing home on a throw down to second.
The Dutchmen got a stellar pitching performance from the starter Smeltzer who pitched five innings striking out three. Trumpour got a three-up, three-down sixth inning, and then after walking the first two batters to start the seventh, he bounced back with three straight strikeouts to end the game.
The Dutchmen have four more games left in the regular season- all on the road. Their next game is on Wednesday, with a doubleheader scheduled in Utica. The Dutchmen would like to thank all the host families for their help and support this summer- we truly would not be able to do what we do without them. We would also like to thank all the home fans who showed their support throughout the season at Dutchmen Field at Keenholts Park, and look forward to seeing our fanbase on the road to end the regular season, and wherever we may be come playoff time.