By Justin Lada
AUBURN, N.Y. — The Salt Cats played their first double header of the NYCBL season and their first home game at Falcon Park in Auburn. Syracuse wouldn’t disappoint, sweeping the Adirondack Trail Blazers in two games, by a score of 12-7 in game one and 12-11 in game two.
Corey Mingin (Oklahoma State-Panhandle) made his first start of the season, after being a reliever up until Saturday. He was impressive, leaving with a chance to win after five-plus innings of work. He was ultimately charged with three runs on five hits, walked two and struck out two. He held the Trailblazers scoreless through the first three innings
Kyle Cushman (2-1) picked up his second win this week, though he allowed the first four batters he saw to reach base, he buckled down and got seven straight outs before allowing a run in the eighth inning on two hits. Cushman (Mohawk Valley CC/Onondaga CC) went three innings allowing two runs on six hits with two punchouts in the win.
Bo Watson (Onondaga CC/St. Bonaventure) came on in the ninth inning after Matt Larangera (Rutgers-Newark) was unable to retire a batter. Watson wound up with an inning pitched and two strikeouts.
Offensively in game one, the Salt Cats got big performances by Bud Morton (Moorhead State) who drove in a pair of runs and scored two times in the Salt Cats nine run, eighth inning that saw them blow the game wide open.
Dan Fiorito (Manhantanville) continues to find himself on base, reaching all four times in the matinee with two hits and two walks. He also scored all four times.
Jimmy Napolitano (Rutgers-Newark) continues to swing a hot bat. He had three RBIs in game one, including a two run single in the big eighth inning.
The Salt Cats couldn’t quite figure out Trailblazers starter, Sean Badger. He went six solid innings, allowing just three runs on seven hits. He left with a chance to lead thanks to the Blazers three run sixth inning off of Mingin/Cushman.
Steven Bloodworth took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) in relief of Badger. The Salt Cats were down 5-3 before that nine run outburst in the eighth inning.
Adirondack scored two in the ninth off Larangera before Watson slammed the door.
Game two was a little more dramatic. The Salt Cats were in command, 6-3 heading into the seventh inning.
Starter Joe Riley (St. Lawrence University) worked into the seventh inning, leaving two runners on when he exited. He wound up going 6.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out five.
Unfortunately, Sean Gavin (Colorado State-Pueblo) couldn’t get Riley off the hook. In the seventh inning the Blazers put five runs across the plate, sending 10 batters to the dish.
Gavin allowed five straight batters to reach before retiring catcher, James Anderson on a sacrifice fly. Gavin would get Chase Matheson to ground out to end the inning.
Kenny May led the eighth inning off for Adirondack and blasted a pitch by Gavin about 350 feet over the wall in right field, staking the Blazers to a 8-6 lead.
The Salt Cats, finding themselves trailing early and often this season have started to come together and found ways to dig themselves out of holes. Ethan Braddock (St. Lawrence University) had an RBI single as the Salt Cats would send eight men to the plate in their own rally. Firoito would once again work a walk, this time getting an RBI for his selective approach at the plate as he forced in the tying run with the free pass, tying it at 8-8.
Kelly Wright (Presbyterian) worked the ninth, allowing one earned run, however a costly error by Andrew Mederios (Westfield State) allowed two more to score, and the Salt Cats found themselves down three after just tying it an inning before.
Mike Mascari (Oneonta State/Oswego State) struck out in two at bats in the game, wound up with an RBI single to tie the game at 11-11.
Napolitano didn’t cool off despite the half hour breaks between the double header, plating Connor Thompson who reached on an error.
Kenny May, who played third base in game two, came in to relieve Austin Bartley with one out in the ninth inning.
He wound up hitting Fiorito with the bases loaded, plating Braddock for the Salt Cats fourth win this week and their second walkoff win of the week.
Corbin Gapski (Farleigh Dickinson) would snap out of his funk with d double in the sixth inning and later scored on an Eddie Charles (Oswego State) single. Gapski was 1-23 on the season coming into that at bat.
The Salt Cats improved to 5-11 with the sweep and head to Geneva Sunday to take on the Red Wings. Maso Cotton (Virginia State University) will take the hill at McDonough Park in search of his first win of the year in four starts.
You can follow the Salt Cats on twitter for all in game updates at @SyrSaltCats or be friends with the ‘Cats on facebook for photos and links to stats and stories at Syracuse SaltCats.
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