By Justin Lada
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Despite out-hitting the Sherrill Silversmiths on Sunday 12-8, the Syracuse Salt Cats couldn’t capitalize with runners on base and paid for it, losing 8-6 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Dick Rockwell Field.
Joe Riley (St. Lawrence) issued a one out walk in the first inning, struck out the next two Smitties, but that’s where the success ended. He lost control of the strike zone in the second inning, and then was let down by his defense.
Riley walked Ernest Ruch III to lead off the second inning and was later hurt by a long throw home by Jimmy Napolitano (Rutgers-Newark) that wound up sailing high. The errant throw came after an RBI double by Hayden Hibberd and then a single by Mitchell Iseneker.
Only one of the four runs Riley allowed were earned, but he ultimately took the loss walking four and allowing three hits.
Mike La Londe (Hiram College) allowed three runs on two hits, walking three in 1.1 innings of relief. A pair of wild pitches in the sixth inning, a double by Iseneker with one out in the sixth brought Kyle Cushman (Mohawk Valley CC/ Onondaga CC) into the game.
A two-run single by Wes VanBoom made it 7-2 after six innings before Cushman struck out Ruch to get out of a two one, two out jam.
The seven runs was more than enough for Oliver Pratt, who got his third win of the year. Pratt was effective yet again for the Smitties against the Salt Cats. In seven innings of work, Pratt allowed nine hits but worked around the jams, allowing just two runs. He helped himself out by not issuing any walks and striking out five.
Pratt only had one inning where he lost control, allowing back-to-back home runs to Eddie Charles (Oswego State) and Bud Morton (Moorehead State) in the third inning. The pair of home runs tied the game at 2-2 briefly.
Thomas Moriarty pitched a scoreless inning of relief and despite some shaky command, Jesus Hernandez wound up with a save.
Hernandez came into an 8-5 game with the tying run eventually coming to the plate thanks to the Salt Cats late rally against Mitchell DuBois.
DuBois walked Napolitano to start the inning and then hit pinch hitter Mike Martinez Jr (Onondaga CC/Keuka). Dan Fiorit (Manhanttanville) lined at two double into left field, scoring Napolitano and pinch runner, pitcher Maso Cotton (Virginia State).
Hernandez took over and walked Charles and allowed an RBI single to Morton before striking out Kevin Bailey (Alvernia) with two out. After hitting Jake Cintolo (Suffolk) with a pitch, Hernandez got Tyler Kirwan (UMass-Boston) to strike out to end the game. Kirwan represented the winning run.
The Salt Cats had 16 base runners on the day and stranded 12 of them. Andrew Medeiros (Westfield State) was thrown out at home on an inning, ending 3-2 double play hit into by Mike Mascari (Oneonta State/Oswego State) to end the second inning.
Cintolo was thrown out at home after a pinch hit single by Connor Thompson (Mansfield) in the sixth inning. The Salt Cats were 4-13 with runners in scoring position.
John Mildner (UMass-Amherst) despite not having pitched in a week, threw one hitless inning, allowing a run thanks to a walk and two hit by pitches and a wild pitch.
The Salt Cats and Silversmiths are now tied at 8-14, fighting to fifth place. The Geneva Red Wings will visit the Salt Cats Monday at Falcon Park at 7pm.
Cotton (0-1 8.35 3 GS 4 G) will be on the mound against the Red Wings.
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Sherrill 0 2 0 2 1 2 0 0 1 – 8 8 1
SYR Salt Cats 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 – 6 12 3
2B–H.Hibberd (4), M.Iseneker (4), K.Bailey (3), D.Fiorito (3).
3B–N.Flemister (1). HR–E.Charles (2), B.Morton (1). RBI–W.Van Boom 2
(10), N.Flemister (14), H.Hibberd (10), T.Hackett (3), M.Iseneker 2 (11),
E.Charles (14), B.Morton (10), J.Cintolo (14), D.Fiorito 3 (18).
HP–N.Flemister (7), H.Hibberd (5), J.Cintolo (5), M.Martinez (3).
SF–J.Cintolo (1). SH–N.Flemister (0). SB–B.Kaczka (5), T.Hackett (3),
B.Morton (8), J.Napolitano (2). CS–B.Campbell (1). E–M.Weakley (10),
E.Charles (2), J.Napolitano (3), J.Riley (1).
LOB–Sherrill 11, SYR Salt Cats 8.
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