Eight PGCBL contests were completed on Thursday, including a doubleheader between the Saugerties Stallions and the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. The Muckdogs and the Power completed their contest from Tuesday that was suspended due to rain, then they played their regularly scheduled nine-inning contest. The game between the Glens Falls Dragons and the Boonville Lumberjacks was postponed. The Elmira Pioneers competed in a non-PGCBL contest.

Game 1: Saugerties Stallions 3, Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 2… Game 2: Saugerties Stallions 3, Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs 0

The Stallions (8-7) went on the road and won two close games against the DiamondDawgs (14-8) at Veterans Memorial Park. Both contests were seven innings.

The Stallions now have the third-best winning percentage in the East Division Standings, while the DiamondDawgs remain in second place in the East Division.

Game 1 – The Stallions broke the 0-0 tie with two runs in the top of the third via a leadoff solo home run from outfielder Andrew Amato (Delaware) and an RBI single from third baseman Aaron Stelogeannis (Polk State). Amato finished game one with a game-high three hits and two runs scored.

The DiamondDawgs trimmed their deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh following a leadoff double from catcher Mitch Balint (Carson-Newman) and an RBI single from shortstop Justin Hackett (Bryant), but Saugerties right-handed reliever Dylan Speakman (South Georgia) got a flyout for the final out of the game to secure the win and record his first save of the season.

Saugerties right-handed starting pitcher Jacob Grossman (Pepperdine) allowed zero hits, two walks and zero runs through the first 2.0 innings, then right-handers Nolan Phillips (St. Thomas) and Damion Kenealy (Polk State) both threw one scoreless inning in relief.

Mohawk Valley right-handed reliever Chris Palmer (Saint Rose) limited the visitors to three hits, zero walks and zero runs with two strikeouts through the final 3.0 innings.

Hackett recorded a team-best two hits during the setback.

Game 2 – The Stallions scored all three runs in the top of the third, and their pitching staff limited the DiamondDawgs lineup to just one hit during the seven innings to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Saugerties left-handed starting pitcher Quinton Hall (Eastern Kentucky) conceded one hits, three walks and zero runs with six strikeouts through the first 2.1 innings, then right-hander Brandon Eldridge (Western Carolina) was credited with the win after allowing zero hits, zero walks and zero runs with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched. Right-hander Liam Horan (MSMC) got the final six outs for Saugerties while allowing zero hits, one walk and zero runs with two strikeouts to record his first save of the season.

Saugerties right fielder Conor Kelly (UMass Lowell) scored the first run of the game in the top of the third after a base hit from third baseman Jack Lawrence (Towson) got past the right fielder. Right fielder Travis Hobbensiefken (Mt. San Antonio) drove in Lawrence during the next at bat to double the Stallions’ lead. Hobbensiefken then stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 in favor of the Stallions.

Mohawk Valley left-hander pitcher Aidan Colagrande (Fairfield University) was outstanding in relief during the second half of the doubleheader. After right-handed starting pitcher Troy Butler (UNC Charlotte) struck out five batters with three runs allowed through the first 2.1 innings, Colagrande allowed zero hits, one walk and zero runs with seven strikeouts during the final 4.2 innings. Through six appearances in 2023 (17.2 innings pitched) Colagrande holds a 0.50 ERA.

Game 1 (Resumption of Tuesday’s suspended contest): Batavia Muckdogs 6, Niagara Power 5… Game 2: Batavia Muckdogs 4, Niagara Power 3

The Muckdogs claimed two walk-off victories over the Power in West Division action on Thursday at Dwyer Stadium. The first game was a resumption of Tuesday’s contest between the two sides that was suspended due to rain. With the two victories on Thursday, the Muckdogs (15-7) extended their winning streak to seven games, and they remain in first place in the West Division Standings. The Power (9-7-1) currently hold the fourth-best winning percentage in the division.

Game 1 – The Muckdogs trailed 5-4 when the contest was suspended on Tuesday in the bottom of the ninth inning. When the game resumed on Thursday, Lucas Lopez (St. Thomas) delivered a walk-off base hit to right field to lift the Muckdogs to a 6-5 victory.

Game 2 – The Muckdogs and the Power battled into extra innings during their scheduled nine-inning contest, then center fielder Anthony Calabro (West Georgia) crossed the plate in the bottom of the tenth to give Batavia their second walk-off victory of the evening.

The Muckdogs broke the 0-0 tie with two runs in the bottom of the second via an RBI single to left field from catcher Brice Mortillaro (Georgia Southwestern) followed by an RBI double from third baseman Victor Alongi (Genesee).

The Power tied the game in the top of the fourth with the help of an RBI ground-rule double from first baseman Vincent Mauro (Niagara). Both sides scored a run during the eighth inning.

Batavia right-handed starting pitcher Julian Pichardo (Fort Lauderdale) allowed four hits, one walk and one earned run with six strikeouts through the first 6.0 innings. Right-hander Garrett Beaver (Salisbury) took the mound for Batavia to begin the bottom of the ninth, and he tossed two perfect innings to improve his record to 3-0 this season.

Right fielder Josh Leadem (Rochester) recorded a team-best two hits for Batavia during the victory, while Mauro and right fielder Jackson Strong (Canisius) both delivered a team-best two hits for the Power.

Jamestown Tarp Skunks 6, Newark Pilots 5

The Tarp Skunks (12-6-1) extended their winning streak to five games on Thursday with a victory at home over the Pilots (3-15).

The Skunks trailed 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth, then they tied the game on an RBI double from right fielder Kieran Gagnon (Gannon). Gagnon stole third base during the next at bat, then Braydon Johnson (Western Kentucky) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Gagnon and end the contest in walk-off fashion.

The Pilots led 4-2 after six innings, then Batavia scored one run in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff solo home run from third baseman Jake Kernodle (Princeton) – his second long ball of the year – one run in the eighth, and two in the ninth to complete the comeback victory at Diethrick park.

Gagnon finished the contest with two hits, one run and one RBI, while first baseman Cooper Munro (Drury) provided two hits, one walk, and a team-high two runs batted in during the victory.

Right-hander Ryan Rafalski (Mercyhurst) pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in relief for Jamestown during the victory, and left-hander Andrew Ayers (St. Bonaventure) was credited with the win after recording all three outs with one unearned run in the top of the ninth.

Newark left fielder Justin DiMartino (Farmingdale State) recorded two hits during the setback, including a two-run single in the top of the fifth.

Amsterdam Mohawks 9, Albany Dutchmen 8

The Mohawks and the Dutchmen traded haymakers on Thursday afternoon at Dutchmen Field, but the Mohawks prevailed with a one-run victory to claim their 11th consecutive victory and earn win No. 499 for manager Keith Griffin. The Mohawks will look to claim their skipper’s 500th win on Friday at home against Watertown.

Amsterdam third baseman Cam Gurney (Utah) went 3 for 4 at the plate with a double, a walk and three runs batted in during the victory, while shortstop Mason Swinney (Alabama) went 3 for 3 with one walk, two RBI and one run scored, and second baseman Alex Irizarry (Maryland) added a two-run single during the Mohawks’ six-run inning in the top of the sixth.

Prior to Amsterdam’s six-run inning, the Dutchmen scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth with the help of three consecutive RBI walks followed by an RBI hit-by-pitch.

Albany center fielder Vince Venditti (Saint Rose) recorded a team-high three walks to go along with an RBI and a run scored during the setback. Right fielder Anderson Moreno (Southern New Hampshire) and designated hitter Josh Foglia (Hudson Valley) both delivered two runs batted in for the Dutchmen.

Amsterdam right-handed starting pitcher Carson Pierce (Oklahoma) allowed one hit, one walk and zero runs with three strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work. Right-hander Jack Seppings (Brown), who holds a 0.00 ERA through nine appearances this season for the Mohawks, allowed one hit, zero walks and zero runs with five strikeouts during the final 2.0 innings to earn his first save of the campaign. Right-hander Gio Conte (UConn) recorded the final out for Amsterdam in the bottom of the seventh and was credited with the win after the Mohawks took the lead for good in the top of the eighth.

Watertown Rapids 7, Oneonta Outlaws 6

The Rapids (8-12) scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to claim a 7-6 victory at home over the Outlaws (8-11) on Thursday at Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds Stadium.

Watertown right-hander Teck Nash (Hobart) replaced starting pitcher Austin McClure with two outs in the fifth inning and limited the Outlaws to one hit, one walk and zero runs with four strikeouts during the final 4.1 innings to improve his record to 1-0 this season.

With the Rapids trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh, center fielder Nick Locurto (Virginia Tech) reached base with a walk, then stole second and third base before coming around to score following a single from DH Jax Miller (Walsh). Watertown then took the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a three-run home run from third baseman Pranav Sundar (Cuesta).

Nash stranded a runner at first during a scoreless top of the ninth to secure the win for Watertown.

Miller finished the game with a game-high three hits to go along with two runs batted in.

Oneonta center fielder Logan Haskell (Binghamton) registered two hits, a team-best two runs scored, a walk and an RBI during the setback, while left fielder Jack Hopko (Rhode Island) added a double, a single and two runs batted in.

Auburn DoubleDays 5, Geneva Red Wings 0

Elmira Pioneers 7, Finger Lakes 1 (Non-league matchup)