Outlaws Spoil Pilots’ Home Opener
Newark commits six errors in 4-3 loss

The Oneonta Outlaws (1-0) won their season opener and Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) debut 4-3 over the Newark Pilots (1-1) in front 1,853 fans at Colburn Park on Thursday night.

The Pilots committed six errors that resulted in four unearned runs for the Outlaws. Two of those runs were scored in seventh inning trailing 3-2. D.J. Luna (Vanderbilt) reached and scored on two separate errors, followed by the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Omar Garcia (State College of Florida).

Sheldon Lee (University of San Francisco) earned the win for the Outlaws in his first regular season start. In his six innings of work, Lee gave up three runs, one earned, on four hits. He struck out a game-high seven while walking none.

The Pilots struck first by scoring in the bottom of the first. With men on second and third, Kane Sweeney (Morehead) grounded out, allowing Josh Crowdus (Delta State) to score.

Oneonta tied it in the top of the third. Garcia reached on a bunt single, advancing to second on a throwing error by Pilots’ catcher Jared Watson (Samford). Garcia then stole third before scoring on throwing error by Johnathan Christensen (Oklahoma Baptist) at the plate.

The Outlaws took 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Luna reached base by a throwing error committed by Joe Landi (Rhode Island). He scored on a RBI single by Lucas Leifield (Grand Canyon).

The Pilots scored one run in both of the fifth and sixth innings. With Josh Perez (Mississippi College) on third, Crowdus struck out but reached on a pass ball allowing Perez to score. To start the bottom of the sixth Lee hit Landi. After a passed ball and a stolen base, Landi scored on Leifield’s second passed ball of the inning.

Christensen got the start on the mound for the Pilots in a losing effort. He pitched seven innings, giving up four unearned runs on five hits while striking out five. Perez led Newark with three hits and scored once.

Entering in the bottom of the seventh, reliever Jeremy Rhoades (Illinois State University) retired six of the next seven batters by strikeouts. David Sosebee (Georgia) earned in his first save of the season in the ninth. Garcia and Clay Holcomb (Troy) combined for four of the Outlaws five hits with two apiece.

The Pilots will venture to Elmira to face the Pioneers at Dunn Field at 7:05 p.m. Friday night. Newark returns home on Monday, June 11 against the same Pioneers.