By Bryan Clark
WELLSVILLE, N.Y. — A five-run fifth inning put the Hornell Dodgers (23-10) in control of their game against the Wellsville Nitros (13-23) as they earned a 8-7 win at the Wellsville Elementary School Thursday evening. The Nitros have lost seven straight games following the New York Collegiate Baseball League All-Star break.
“It’s frustrating,” said Wellsville assistant coach Jordan Basile. “We tell the guys every single day you got to stay positive.”
Hornell third baseman Dylan Dunn gave his team a 2-0 lead with a home run in the top of the second inning, scoring left fielder Will Benenson.
The Nitros took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third on singles by shortstop Riley Goulding and designated hitter Chris May that brought home third baseman Michael Fries and center fielder Jason Webb and Goulding respectively.
Wellsville built its advantage in the bottom of the fourth to 6-2 as Webb hit a sacrifice fly, allowing catcher Chandler Sidwell to score. Fries scored on a error committed by Hornell right fielder Kyle Danford. Wellsville right fielder Montana Timmons reached first on an error by Hornell shortstop Chris Roeder, allowing Wellsville second baseman Nicholas Gill to come home.
Hornell took the lead in the top of the fifth. Center fielder Kevin Johnson scored on an error by Wellsville first baseman Adam Hightower. Danford reached home on a single by first baseman Matt Calhoun. Benenson capped off the inning with a home run, driving in Calhoun and designated hitter Luke Feisal.
Fries grounded to Roeder in the bottom of the fifth, allowing Hightower to score.
Hornell added a run in the top of the sixth as catcher Justin Gonzalez scored on a Johnson sacrifice fly.
The Nitros committed seven errors in the game. Calhoun and Danford each picked a pair of hits for hornell. Hightower, Sidwell and Timmons each recorded two hits for Wellsville.
Hornell starting pitcher Jordan Quinn struck out two Nitros while allowing three walks, six runs (four earned) and six hits in four innings. Philip Hathcock (1-0) earned the win, giving up two walks, an earned and a hit in one and one-third innings. Jake Bradenberger pitched two innings, walking two batters and striking out three. Johnson earned the save, allowing a walk and three hits with two strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings.
Hornell head coach Tony Fuller praised his bullpen.
“That’s been our strength all year,” said Fuller. “Our bullpen, whoever is coming in that role at any given day, is honestly going to be very, very good. We managed to find a way to win.”
Wellsville starter Evan Robaczewski pitched five innings, allowing a walk, six hits, seven runs (one earned) with four strikeouts. Cameron Langfels (2-3) took the loss, giving up a walk and a run with two strikeouts in an inning. Henry Johnson allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. Matt Fishman picked an out in the top of the ninth, allowing a walk and recording a strikeout.
“I thought we played a pretty good game,” said Basile. “We get a base hit here, a base hit there, we win that ballgame.”
The Nitros trail the Geneva Twins by three games for the final playoff spot in the NYCBL Eastern Division with four games to play.
“We remind the guys every single day that tomorrow’s a new day,” said Basile. “These guys have battled all season long. We’re in this together.”
The two teams will meet again in Hornell Saturday at 7 p.m.
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