By Dave Malerk
WEBSTER, N.Y. — The Lake Ontario Ridgemen (11-22) snapped the Olean Oilers’ (20-14) two-game win streak defeating the visitors 7-3 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Stadium on Thursday night.
Down 3-1 to Olean going into the bottom of the sixth, the home team was able to rally as they tacked on six runs in the inning, as they took a 7-3 lead; only two of those runs in the inning were earned as the visitors committed three errors in the inning. Josh Davis (Whitworth College) provided team with the go-ahead RBI hit that scored Joel Belk (Azusa Pacific University).
Jonathan Burkhart (East Texas Baptist University) led Rochester with a game-high two hits. The center fielder also drove in a run and crossed the plate once. The first five hitters in the home line-up contributed five of the team’s seven hits and three of the seven runs.
Zach Hedges (Azusa Pacific University) earned his first regular season win for the home team as he pitched one and two-third innings of relief after coming in for the starter in the fifth with one out in the inning. The righty pitched effectively has he registered three punch outs and not allowing any hits.
The Oilers scored the first runs of the game, as they took a 2-0 lead over the Athletes in Action in the top of the second. After getting the first two men on base, the first baseman Joe Chittester (Clarion University) singled to drive in Brad Rush (St. John Fisher College) for a RBI. Jose Alicea (Genesee Community College) capped of the team’s scoring as he flied out to left to drive in Chittester on the sacrifice.
Olean added another run to their lead in the top of the fourth. With runners on first and second, Seth Heck (Tacoma Community College) singled to right field allowing each runner to advance to the next base, but with the outfielder committing an error, the lead runner Michael Booth (Canisius College) was able to score.
AIA got their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. After tripling with two outs in the inning, Nick Flanagan (Martin Methodist College) was able to score home as a wild pitch made its way to the backstop.
Heck and Pat Welsh (Marist College) each went 2-for-4 for the Oilers. They combined for half of Olean’s eight hits.
Dave Patrick (North Georgia Col & State Univ.) earned the save for the team has he pitched three innings; he gave up two hits while striking out a game high four batters and walking two.
Zach Machmer (Medaille College) earned the loss for the Oilers Thursday night. The righty pitched six and one-third innings. He gave up seven runs on six hits to Rochester. He struck out three and walked two.
Olean will travel to Niagara to take on the Power at Sal Maglie Stadium for their game that is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night. The Rochester Athletes in Action have an off day on Friday, but will resume play Saturday afternoon as they travel to Geneva to take on the Twins at McDonough Park for a game time start of 3.
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