By Bryan Clark
WELLSVILLE — Allowing only five hits, drawing nine walks and a three-run fifth inning propelled the Wellsville Nitros (2-3) to its second straight victory in a 6-1 win over the Hornell Dodgers (3-1) Friday evening at the Wellsville Elementary School.
“Nine walks is way too many,” said Hornell coach Tony Fuller. “We certainly didn’t do a good job of finding and locating the strike zone.”
The Nitros scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first as centerfielder Jason Webb came home after a pitch by Hornell starter Kevin Johnson hit third baseman Nick Fornaca.
Webb brought right fielder Trent Whitcomb home on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second, making the score 2-0.
Hornell cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth with a solo home run by first baseman Matt Calhoun.
Wellsville took control of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Whitcomb hit an RBI single, scoring shortstop Riley Goulding. Catcher Chandler Sidwell drew a walk, scoring designated hitter Chris May. A wild pitch by Hornell reliever Jesse Frawley allowed left fielder Michael Fries to come home.
The Nitros added a run in the bottom of the sixth as Webb scored following a balk by Hornell reliever Philip Hathcock.
Whitcomb led Wellsville at the plate, going three-for-four with an RBI and a run scored
“I was hitting the ball pretty well today,” said Whitcomb, an Eastern Illinois freshman.
Whitcomb said the team has improved in the past week with more timely hitting and fewer errors in the field. He said it felt good playing well at home in nice weather.
“We’ve been getting rain for about the past week,” said Whitcomb. “Now that it’s sunny and warm, it (baseball) is more fun.”
Calhoun went two-for-four at the plate for Hornell, picking up an RBI with his second home run of the season.
Wellsville starting pitcher Cameron Langfels (1-0) picked up the win, striking out three batters and allowing three walks, two hits and an earned run in six innings on the mound. Right-handed reliever Henry Johnson pitched the game’s final three innings for the Nitros, allowing only three hits.
“You have to give some credit to their pitching,” said Fuller. “When we did get some hits, we couldn’t string together enough to score runs.”
Johnson (0-1) took the loss for Hornell, allowing two runs (both earned), two hits and four walks and struck out a hitter in two and a third innings. Righty Steven Dooley struck out three batters and allowed two hits, three runs (all earned) and walked four Nitros in two innings of work. Frawley struck out a hitter and gave up an earned run, a walk and three hits in one inning. Hathcock pitched two and two-thirds innings, striking out two batters and allowing two hits.
The Nitros will host the Geneva Twins in a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Hornell hosts the Olean Oilers Saturday at 7 p.m.
Leave a Reply