In one of the closest games of the season, the Glens Falls Golden Eagles managed to barely hold off the visiting Newark Pilots in game one of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League Semi Final Playoff series.

Glens Falls’ Tayler Saucedo (Tacoma C.C.) and Newark’s Daniel Thorpe (Saint Joseph’s, PA) squared off in what many expected to be a pitchers’ duel, which turned out to an early burst of offense from both teams.

In the top of the first two runs scored off of a bases loaded walk from Saucedo and an RBI single from Joe Landi (Rhode Island).

However, the Golden Eagles answered for their pitcher and hit through the order in the bottom half of the first, scoring five runs. Chase Griffin (Georgia Southern) scored Danny Brennan (Saint Louis) to put Glens Falls on the board. Then Mike Vigliarolo (Saint Louis) drove in Alberto Morales (Clarendon) on a sacrifice fly to right field to tie it at two. A failed play at second with the bases loaded scored Griffin and kept the inning alive. Then a throwing error from catcher Cash Barker (Texas A&M Kingsville) brought the final two runs home in the inning.

However, the Pilots wouldn’t crash so easily. They soared back in the second with two runs of their own.  Brent Langston (Delta State) grounded out with runners on second and third, scoring Barker, and shortly after Austin Logan (UC Davis) singled to score Ben Bostick (St. John Fisher) to cut the deficit to 5-4.

Then the Golden Eagles answered with a run as Morales singled, scoring Casey Rodrigue (LSU Eunice) in the bottom half of the frame.

Newark scored one more run in the top of the third off a wild pitch from Saucedo with runners on second and third which brought the game to a score of 6-5.

Then the pitchers took over the game. After walking the first batter in the fourth, Saucedo was relieved by Jordan Keysor (Skidmore) who took control of the Newark lineup. He allowed one hit, two walks, and six strikeouts through 5.0 innings pitched allowing no runs to score. Thorpe followed suit and settled himself down, allowing only one hit over the next five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, giving him a total of eight for the game.

Jimmy Wagner (Ithaca) came in relief of Thorpe in the eighth inning and kept the game within striking distance for the Pilots.

Jake Doller (Kansas State) came in to close the game in the ninth and recorded two quick outs. Then Josh Perez (Mississippi College) got a base hit and was pulled for pinch runner Ross Jarzynka (UVA-Wise). Doller threw the ball away to first, which sprung Jarzynka. He headed to second and rounded the bag while Vigliarolo was chasing the ball. He tripped on the turn half way to third base when Vigliarolo threw to Morales at third to tag Jarzynka on the ground for the final out of a game that had everything to offer fans.

The series heads to Newark tomorrow night for game two at 7 pm in Colburn Park. If needed the Golden Eagles would return home for game three of the best-of-three series on Sunday night at 7 pm.