By Paul Gotham
WEBSTER, NY – Adam Posey (Eastern Mennonite) hurled nine complete but needed some help as the Niagara Power defeated the Rochester Ridgemen, 3-2 in extra innings in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field, Sunday night.
Posey allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out four and walking none but left a tied game after the ninth inning.
“He kept our defense in the game,” noted Niagara head coach Josh Rebandt. “When you get ahead (in the count), your defense is going to make plays for you. He goes back out there, and guys know they’re ready for contact right away. He’s not a big strike out guy, but he’s a ground ball, couple pop ups here and there.”
After allowing a Taylor Empkey (Eastfield College) single up the middle in the first, the right-hander from Poquoson, Virginia retired the next 19 batters – 13 on ground balls in the infield.
“I just wanted to throw a lot of off-speed stuff,” Posey said. “I threw a lot of change ups early in the count. From the second through the seventh it was just first-pitch change up. I got ahead in the count that way. Our defense played great. Coach gives us a good plan to succeed, so I just stuck with that.”
The Power struck first with a pair of runs in the sixth.
Cody Pentecost (College of the Ozarks) beat a one-out hit into the turf over the head of Rochester first baseman, Nick Oddo (Cal St. San Bernadino). Benjamin Pickard (Delta St.) followed with an opposite field RBI triple to right.
“My first two at bats were sorry, and this is my first game of the summer,” Pickard said. “I told coach after those first two at bats, I’m going to have a good at bat. I dug deep and said a little prayer in my head.”
Bobby Twitty (St. Leo) added to the lead with an RBI double plating Pickard.
Pentecost’s hit broke a string of a combined 25 batters set down by Posey and his counterpart, Dwayne Snider (Texas Lutheran).
“We were all scratching our heads at that point,” Rebandt stated. “I’m sure they were doing the same thing. Their pitcher, Snider, he’s got great stuff with good command. Both pitchers did a good job of getting ahead.”
Rochester rattled off three hits to start the eighth and eventually knot tedthe game.
Russell Colgan (Northern Oklahoma Col Enid) led with a triple to right center. Nicholas Wolyniec (Siena) reached on an RBI infield single. Wolyniec moved 90 feet on an error. Ryan Logan (Christian Brothers) singled through the left before pinch hitter Matthew Simmons (Hendrix) tied the score with an RBI ground out.
The late-inning rally was the second in as many nights for the Ridgemen.
“They find a way to win,” Rochester head coach Taylor Hargrove said of his team’s ability to come back. “They think outside the box. I’m not surprised.”
The Power took advantage of late-inning generosity to score a run without the virtue of a hit. Matt Brooks (Hanover) started the 10th getting hit by a pitch. After Tyler Simmons (Wingate) reached on a fielder’s choice, Pentecost was hit by a pitch, and Pickard walked to load the bases. Twitty, then worked the count full and fouled off a pitch before earning an RBI base on balls.
Travis Laitar (SUNY Cortland) retired the side in order in the bottom half for his first save of the summer. The right-hander struck out the final two batters he faced.
Rochester came from behind to defeat Niagara, 6-3 Saturday night at Sal Maglie Stadium.
Pentecost reached base three times with two hits and HBP.
Snider gave up two runs in eight innings.
Carl Budding (Brunswick CC) took the loss.
Rochester travels to Noyes Park, Monday to take on the Sherrill Silversmiths. A 5 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.
Niagara hosts the Hornell Dodgers at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, New York. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.
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