With the opportunity to win two games the Webster Yankees found production from some rare sources on Sunday night. Bolstered by the hot-hitting of Dan Bertolini (Mercyhurst) and a sparkling pitching performance by Josh Johnson (Toledo) the Yanks took two from the Bolivar A’s: 3 to 2 in the first and 6 to 3 in the nightcap.
Bertolini’s single in the ninth scored Adam Perlo (Monroe) for what would be the winning run. Perlo led off the inning with a single, and Marcus Nidiffer (Kentucky) moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. After a pass ball Perlo scored on Bertolini’s hit.
‘Bomber’ Curynski (So. Illinois) made the lead stand as he struck out one pitching a perfect ninth.
Webster got on the board in the third. Mark Stuckless (Monroe) hit a two-out triple to score Nidiffer from first.
Webster regained the lead in the eighth. Nelson Santos (North Carolina A&T) worked a two-out walk, and Joe McIntyre (North Carolina A&T) followed with an RBI double.
But the A’s responded with a run of their own to force the ninth. Alex Rehnstrom (North Iowa Area CC) rapped an RBI single to score Ben Titus (Otterbein) with the tying run.
Gino Offerman (Binghamton) struck out four and walked one in five and a third innings pitched.
Bryan Gardner (Ithaca) struck out two of the five batters he faced.
Johnson got his first start of the season, and the young right-hander, who leads the team with three yard jobs, made it memorable. Johnson struck out three and walked one over six innings of work to get the win. He allowed three runs of which only one was earned.
Gardner struck out two in the seventh to get the save.
Webster wasted little time getting after A’s starter, Josh Livingston (Texas A&M-Kingsville). McIntyre reached base to lead off the second when he was hit by a Livingston pitch. After a Ryan Sullivan (Rochester) sacrifice, McIntyre moved up to second and scored on Nidiffer’s single. Bertolini kept the inning going with a two-out hit, and Shawn Bailey (Mesa St.) brought both home with a single.
Gary Helmick (Towson) led the third with a triple and scored on McIntyre’s sacrifice fly.
Webster scored two more in the fifth. McIntyre and Sullivan led off with back-to-back singles. After a throwing error advanced the runners, Perlo’s ground ball scored McIntyre. Nidiffer followed with his second RBI single of the game.
Webster improves to 11 and 15 on the season. With the wins the Yanks move to within two games of a playoff spot. Both Niagara and Geneva have thirteen wins and as many losses. Brockport is 12 and 13 on the season.
Next up Webster has a home and home with Hornell.
Leave a Reply