OLEAN, NY — Max Beermann (Villanova) connected on a fifth-inning grand slam, and the Olean Oilers went on to a 9-3 victory over the Niagara Power in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Tuesday evening at Olean High School.
Beermann’s one-out inside the park home run extended a one-run lead for the NYCBL’s top team.
Beermann brought home Casey Gibson (Nova Southeastern), Joe Chittester (Brewton Parker) and Lee Grosscup (Mt. Union) as Olean took a commanding 8-3 lead.
Gibson led the inning with a base hit. One out later, Chittester singled. Grosscup loaded the bases for Beermann when he wore a Zach Uher (SUNY Stony Brook) pitch.
Kyle McLain (Washington & Jefferson) came out of the bullpen and made the lead stick. The right-hander retired all nine batters he faced. McLain fanned three.
Nick Donofry (Bloomsburg) allowed three unearned runs over five innings of work for his second win of the season. The right-hander struck out three, walked one and surrendered two hits.
Back-to-back doubles in the fourth gave Niagara a 3-2 edge.
Scott Gillespie (Covenant) doubled home Perry Rigby (Covenant) and Bobby Twitty (St. Leo). Rigby reached on an error to start the Power rally. Twitty also took advantage of a defensive miscue to continue the inning. Gillespie’s two-out hit tied the score at two. Benjamin Pickard (Delta St.) followed suit giving the Power its only lead of the game.
Grosscup singled home Mike Fahrman (Florida) in the first and Chittester scored on a double steal as Olean grabbed the early 2-0 advantage.
Julien Plana (Nova Southeastern) plated Grosscup with a single in the bottom of the fourth. Plana eventually scored on a Brad Smith (Bloomsburg) triple.
Donofry, McLain and Smith limited the Power to three hits.
Beermann’s home run was his second of the season.
Chittester, Grosscup, Plana and Smith all collected two hits for the Oilers.
Gillespie led the Power with a pair of hits.
With the win, the Oilers (11-5) maintain their one-game at the top of the NYCBL standings. Second-place Wellsville (9-5) defeated the Rochester Ridgemen, 7-4.
Niagara, the 2012 NYCBL finalist, fell to 7-9.
The same two teams meet again Wednesday at Olean. Niagara sends Hunter Lewis (2-0) to the mound. Olean answers with Joey Gamache (0-0). First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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