Seven more games were completed on Tuesday, and with the playoffs fast approaching, wins mean more now than ever before.
Auburn Doubledays 2, Niagara Power 1
A pitcher’s duel between two West Division playoff hopefuls ended in a Doubledays (16-16) win over Niagara (18-15-1).
After a scoreless first two frames, the Doubledays struck first in the third inning on an RBI single by EH Bobby Stang (Georgia Southern) to take a 1-0 lead. Then, in the fourth, catcher James Bolton (Cortland) came through with another RBI hit to give the Doubledays their second run of the night, which is all they’d end up needing.
Niagara’s run came in the top of the fourth when a groundout by DH Andrew Stillinger (NCCC) knotted up the game at 1. The Power were unable to get much more offense going the rest of the night, and would be held there. Catcher Jeremy Glinski (D’Youville) had a good night, picking up two hits.
Andrew Isdale (Northern Colorado) picked up the victory, tossing 6.1 innings, giving up one run, and striking out five. Michael Sills (Wofford) came in for his fifth save of the season.
Elmira Pioneers 8, Geneva Red Wings 2 (GAME 1)
In this extra-inning contest, Elmira (20-12) used a burst of offense to take command over the Red Wings (8-23-1).
Throughout the first seven innings, Geneva was able to push across just enough offense to keep up with their stellar pitching. Their first run came in the bottom of the third when right fielder Brandon Gelpi (Baldwin Wallace) picked up an RBI double, and the run #2 came in when center fielder Nate Milk (Niagara U) came home in the sixth. Milk scores both Geneva runs, and Gelpi led the team with three hits.
After matching Geneva’s two runs through the first seven innings, this doubleheader game went into extras, when the Pioneers would rally to victory. Elmira used their sharp batting eye and took advantage of a few Geneva errors to push across six bug runs in the top of the eighth to claim victory. Right fielder Kevin Knoess (Montgomery) reached base three times, and first baseman John Schroeder (Fl. Atlantic) picked up two hits to lead the offense.
Brendan Ferrari (UMass Boston) picked up the win, retiring the final five Red Wings hitters in the game.
Elmira Pioneers 7, Geneva Red Wings 3 (GAME 2)
The Pioneers (21-12) once again used a strong rally to claim game two and the doubleheader sweep over Geneva (8-24-1).
Elmira took control of this contest in the third, putting up six runs after a scoreless first two innings. The big hit was a 2-run double provided by Joe Muzio, which gave Elmira control with their third and fourth runs of the game. John Schroeder once again came up big for the Pioneers, picking up two hits and an RBI.
The Red Wings first run came in the bottom of the first, when Brandon Gelpi came home on an error. Then in the third, Andrew Eppinger’s single brought home Wyatt Patchett for Geneva’s second run, and a third would come in later on. Gelpi and Patchett led the team with two hits each.
Jamestown Tarp Skunks 7, Batavia Muckdogs 3
In this battle of two West Division contenders, Jamestown (19-12-1) took down Batavia (21-13) to inch up the standings.
Batavia’s offense struck first in this game, putting up two runs in the top of the third on an error and then a putout that scored centerfielder Cristian Bernardini (St. John’s), who had three hits in the game. In the ninth, the Muckdogs were able to pick up one more run when left fielder Matt DeStefano (Stony Brook) came home on a wild pitch. Unfortunately for them, their offensive output would be held right there.
Jamestown’s big offensive inning was the fifth, when their four runs gave them full command of the game. They then put up two more the next inning when shortstop Grady Mee (Western Michigan) came through with a 2-run single. His 3 RBIs for the game led the team. Catcher Evan Fragela (Pitt-Bradford) had a big day for the Tarp Skunks, picking up three hits.
The winning pitcher for Jamestown was Jason Masick (Wagner) who pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two.
Amsterdam Mohawks 8, Boonville Lumberjacks 3
On Tuesday, the Mohawks (31-3-1) continued to prove why they’re the team to beat with another win over the Lumberjacks (10-26).
The Lumberjacks’ offense got going in the top of the fifth when third baseman Hugo Kohnhorst (Mineral Area) smashed his first home run of the season, a 2-run shot. Later on, an eighth inning triple turned error brought home DH Nicholas Vega for the team’s third run of the night.
The Mohawks’ offense was once again on their game, with catcher Luke Longo (NJIT) leading the way, smashing his sixth home run of the season and leading the team with two hits. Right fielder Zach Eldred (Brockport) also continued his impressive season, picking up two RBIs.
The winning pitcher for Amsterdam was Brandon Peterson (NJIT), a consistent dominant arm throughout the summer. He went six innings, giving up two runs, and striking out ten, giving him 20 combined strikeouts from his last two starts.
Newark Pilots 11, Niagara Power 4
The Pilots (9-20-1) took care of business at home against Niagara (18-15-1) thanks to some early offensive success.
The scoring began for the Power in the first inning when left fielder Andrew Fairbrother (Tiffin) scored on an RBI double to give them a 1-0 lead. Later on, the team brought in runs #3 & 4 on a 2-run double off the bat of first baseman Cal Brazier (Tiffin). Fairbrother led the team with three hits, and Brazier led the team with two RBIs.
The Pilots broke out in the second inning, putting five runs on the scoreboard and grabbing all momentum. Left fielder Paul Goodness (Finger Lakes CC) was in the middle of the rally, coming up big with a 2-run single, just a part of his two hit, four RBI night. He later scored on a 2-run homer from EH Jack Arcamone (Richmond), his first home run of the summer. After leading 7-1 after two, the Pilots added four more runs in the next frame to give them 11 for the game.
The winning pitcher for Newark was Angelo Deer (Emerson), who went four innings, allowing two runs, and striking out one.
Albany Dutchmen 6, Watertown Rapids 4
Albany (15-18) picked up another win Tuesday night, this time over the Rapids (12-24), to keep their playoff chase alive.
The Dutchmen offense came alive in the first few frames, all beginning with an RBI single from first baseman Korson Hastings (Trinity), giving them a lead that would never be lost. Another run in the first inning, plus two in the second and one in the third put them at five, all that they’d end up needing. Third baseman Austin Francis (NJIT) provided a boost to the lineup, him and Hastings both compiling three hits each in the game.
Watertown’s first run would come in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single via left fielder Gaetan Grandelli (West Chester), who had two hits in the game. A 2-run single by EH Mike Norton (Cayuga CC) in the fourth gave the Rapids another boost, but they’d only be able to push across one more run in the eighth, not quite enough for victory.
Grant Smeltzer (Fairfield) picked up the win for Albany, going four innings, allowing two earned runs, and striking out two. Parker Lendrum (SNHU) got the save with a perfect ninth inning.