The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs were back at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Little Falls, NY following a rain out in Albany Tuesday night.  The DiamondDawgs played host to the Glens Falls Golden Eagles who were also rained out in their game against the Cooperstown Hawkeyes.

The DiamondDawgs were looking to get back in the win column after giving up a lead in the ninth Monday night to drop to 2-3 while the Golden Eagles  soared in to Vet’s Park seeking to make it two in a row and even out it’s 2-3 record after beating the Oneonta Outlaws Monday evening.  On the mound Wednesday night were Atlanta Braves 2011 draft pick John Means (Fort Scott C.C) for the DiamondDawgs and Brandon Magallones (Northwestern) for the Golden Eagles.

Means gave up a double and triple to start off the game but quickly settled down striking out the next three batters and was able to get out of the 1st down just 1-0.  The remainder of the game was a classic pitcher’s dual with Means striking out 10 over 7 innings allowing 3 hits, a walk and an earned run over the course of the game. Meanwhile, Magallones pitched 3 innings of 1 hit ball before turning it over to Luke Dauch (Northwestern).

In the fourth the Golden Eagles threaten but stranded a runner at third after Mike Vigliarolo (Saint Louis) doubled, Buddy Putnam (South Florida) sacrificed, Dylan Bosheers (Tennessee Tech) grounded out and Emmanuel Forcier (New Mexico J.C) struck out.  In the bottom of the fourth the DiamondDawgs failed to convert with a runner on and a chance to tie the game.  After four innings of play that DiamondDawgs were held to just one hit.  The Dawgs were unable to convert in both the bottom halves of the 5th and 6th when steal attempts by Luke Nethaway (Herkimer County C.C) and Mark Stuckey (Marist) were shutdown by Glens Falls squashing a rally.

Taylor Wright (Brown) came on to start the 8th inning for the Dawgs and gave up a single to J.P. Rousseau (Georges-Vanier Secondary Que.) and hit Ross Kivett (Kansas State) by  a pitch, however Glens Falls was unable to convert and add on any insurance runs.  The bottom of the 8th saw Ryan Peterson (Yavapai) take the mound for the Golden Eagles.  The inning began when pinch hitter Joe Carcone (Bryant) reached second on a bunt single that was overthrown allowing him to advance.  A sacrifice bunt moved Carcone to 3rd, however when pinch hitter Jonathan Scott (Bryant) checked his swing and struck out, the catcher dropped the ball and threw to first and Carcone headed for home where we was thrown out.

Wright remained in the game for the top of the 9th and allowed two walks, a hit by pitch coupled with a fielders choice and Danny Brennan (Saint Louis) reaching on an error resulted in a run scoring.  A single by Kivett scored the third run of the game and a play at the plate ended the inning with the Golden Eagles up 3-0.

Jared Cheek (Georgia Southern) came on in the bottom of the 9th and allowed just one single and three pop ups which was enough to quell any comeback attempts by the DiamondDawgs.  The win was attributed to Ryan Peterson who improved to 1-1 while John Mean was charged with the loss (0-1)

With the loss the DiamondDawgs drop to 2-4 while the Golden Eagles improve to 3-3.    The next game for the DiamondDawgs is an exhibition tomorrow morning against the New Rochelle Athletics at Vet’s Park in Little Falls.  Tomorrow is the DiamondDawgs annual field trip games were over 1,400 local children will fill the seats and cheer on their DiamondDawgs.