Sunday’s action included many close matchups, with five individual matchups, a doubleheader, and a non-league game all being completed.
Auburn Doubledays 3, Jamestown Tarp Skunks 2 (GAME 1)
Auburn (14-16) was able to squeak out a win over the Tarp Skunks (18-11-1) in this seven-inning game one matchup.
Auburn began the scoring in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by DH Hazel Martinez (Union – Tenn.) to make it 1-0. The Doubledays would then add on in the fourth when centerfielder Emil Sander (Oswego) and third baseman James Mason (Clarkson) came through with RBI singles of their own.
Jamestown would show some life in the top of the fifth when two runs would score on a fielder’s choice and error, one of which being second baseman Grady Mee (Western Michigan), who reached base twice in this contest. Tarp Skunks centerfielder Zack Kent (Wagner) picked up two hits. Unfortunately for Jamestown, their scoring would hold there.
Huxley Holcombe (Cornell) continued his impressive season for the Doubledays, picking up the win, pitching five innings, allowing one earned run, and striking out five. Michael Sills (Wofford) picked up his third save of the season.
Auburn Doubledays 4, Jamestown Tarp Skunks 3 (GAME 2)
The Doubledays (15-16) narrowly picked up the doubleheader sweep over Jamestown (18-12-1) to give them a strong playoff push.
Once again, Auburn’s offense would strike first, this time on an RBI single by EH Fernando Espinal (Cayuga). In the sixth, the Doubledays would push across three more runs, with the big hit being a 2-run home run from centerfielder AJ Wenrich (Georgia Southern).
Jamestown would show signs of a comeback during the game, with an RBI single by catcher Ryan Mittelman (Tampa) being the first of two runs which game them a 2-1 lead at the time. Then, down 4-2 in the final inning, Jamestown would only be able to push across one more run thanks to a second baseman Zack Kent (Wagner) RBI single. The score would hold right there.
Cooper Polcovich (WVU Potomac) earned the win for Auburn, tossing 5.2 innings, giving up two runs, and striking out eight. Michael Sills (Wofford) came in for the second straight game to get another save, his fourth of the year.
Newark Pilots 4, Batavia Muckdogs 2
Newark’s (8-20-1) big fourth inning and dominant pitching paved the way to a victory over the Muckdogs (21-11).
After a scorelsss first two innings, Batavia took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to an RBI double from centerfielder Kyle Hetherington (Lipscomb), who finished with three hits for the game. The other Muckdogs run would come in the sixth when Hetherington would score on the RBI putout by second baseman Lucas Lopez (St. Thomas).
The Pilots’ offense came alive in the fourth inning, putting four runs on the board. The scoring began with RBI hits from catcher Jack Arcamone (Richmond) and left fielder Justin DiMartino (Farmingdale), one of which scored EH Tatsunori Negishi (Middle Tenn.), who had two hits in the game. Two more runs would then come in on an error and putout.
Newark’s pitching came up big for them in this game, with Chris Lowe (Emerson) being in the center of it. He picked up the win, tossing seven innings, giving up two runs, and striking out two. Cam Kingsley (St. John Fisher) got the save, pitching a scoreless final two frames.
Albany Dutchmen 6, Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 4
Albany (14-18) used some strong offense and pitching against Mohawk Valley (19-13) to keep them in the playoff hunt.
The Dutchmen wasted no time in this game getting the scoring started, putting up three runs in the top of the first. The big hit behind it all was a 2-run home run from catcher Brody Keneston (Le Moyne), his first of the year. Two more Albany runs come come in the top of the third, the big hit being a 2-run double by first baseman Korson Hastings (Trinity). Albany would add on one more run in the eighth to give them six for the game.
The DiamondDawgs would push across some runs later in this contest, the first coming in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by centerfielder Jaden Ross (South Florida). After two runs came in the seventh, left fielder Nick Sturino (Fairfield) would come home on a pass ball in the eighth to give Mohawk Valley their fourth and final run in the game. Sturino lead the offense with three hits.
Albany’s Jacob Maurer (Lafayette) got the win, pitching the first three innings scoreless. Greg Mays (Cortland) got the save.
Geneva Red Wings 3, Niagara Power 2
This pitching duel would lead to Geneva (8-21-1) pulling out the big win at home over a strong Niagara (17-13-1) team.
Niagara would begin the scoring in the top of the second inning when an RBI single by catcher Jeremy Glinski (D’Youville) gave them a 1-0 advantage. Niagara’s only other run in this game would come in the sixth, when first baseman Cal Brazier (Tiffin) came through with an RBI double. Brazier would finish with two hits in the game.
The big inning for the Red Wings offense was the third, when their three runs would prove to be the difference in the game. The first run would come on an RBI single by centerfielder Nate Milk (Niagara U). This was then followed by an RBI double by left fielder Brandon Gelpi (Baldwin Wallace), scoring shortstop Cameron Boardman (Hartford). Another run would come across on a putout to give Geneva all that they needed. Gelpi and Boardman lead the team with two hits.
Griffin Snyder (Hobart) picked up the win for Geneva, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings to lower his season ERA to 3.17. Wyatt Patchett (Le Moyne) picked up the final out to earn the save.
Utica Blue Sox 8, Oneonta Outlaws 0
Utica (18-10) showed off their very best in this commanding win over the Outlaws (13-21).
After a scoreless first, Utica came through with a big second inning, putting up five runs. A 2-run double by catcher Greg Kopp (Hamilton) opened up the scoring, leading the way for Utica to claim all momentum. Two more runs would cross for Utica in the bottom of the sixth, including an RBI double from first baseman Will Shannon (Hillsdale). One more than crossed in the eighth two give the Blue Sox an impressive eight for the game. Shannon lead the team with three hits.
Oneonta struggled to put their mark on the scoreboard in this contest, failing to bring home a run. However, shortstop Ryan Leary (Wagner) and DH Cam Baillargeon (Holy Cross), showed off their plate discipline with two walks each.
Holden de Jong (NJIT) added on to his dominant season, getting the win in this one. He went five innings, allowing only one hit, no runs, and striking out six.
Watertown Rapids 16, Boonville Lumberjacks 6
Watertown (11-22) had one of their biggest offensive performances of the season in this commanding win over Boonville (10-23).
After putting up seven runs in the first four innings, the Rapids decided they wanted a lot more, putting up another seven alone in the fifth. The big hit was a grand slam from DH Jax Miller (Walsh), who went 4-4 with seven RBI for one of the best single-game performances of any player this season. Two more Rapids runs were tacked on in the eighth to give them an impressive 16 for the game. Catcher David McCann (Virginia Tech) reached base three times.
Boonville’s offense came alive in the fifth, putting up five runs, which included a 2-run single by left fielder Matthew Layton (Spartan Methodist). Layton had three hits in this game, reaching base four total times. Lumberjacks catcher Joshua Bermudez (Prince George CC) picked up two hits.
Jared Duquette (Saint Michael’s) picked up the win for the Rapids, pitching five innings and striking out five.
Syracuse Salt Cats 13, Elmira Pioneers 5 (NON-LEAGUE)