by Dan Lonky (@danlonky)
ONEONTA, NY – The rain held off just enough Thursday night, allowing the Oneonta Outlaws (9-6) to take down the Sherrill Silversmiths (8-9) 2-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.
As the rain came down at Damaschke Field, Outlaws starter Luke Crumley (Georgia) thrived, tossing 6.1 quality innings of one-run, one-hit baseball while walking three and striking out a season high nine batters.
“I was just trying to work ahead, I didn’t know if we were gonna be able to get the game in so I was just trying to get through 5 innings,” Crumley said of his performance. “I used my fastball and changeup pretty well and mixed in my slider and it worked out.”
On the offensive end the Outlaws got both of their runs in the second inning off Silversmiths starter Kevin Carpentier (Finger Lakes CC). With Ryan Tomita (Grand Canyon) on third, Jake Levine (Brown) stole second and Tomita was able to come home on the catcher’s throw for Oneonta’s first run. Brian Kraft (Grand Canyon) then followed by beating out an infield single on a close play at first, allowing Levine to score.
The Silversmiths got their only run off Crumley in the fourth, when, with a man on second, Skyler Geissinger (Southern Illinois) dumped Sherrill’s first hit of the game into right field, scoring the runner. That hit would be the only one the Silversmiths would manage off Crumley, who departed with a runner on first and one out in the seventh.
The ever-reliable Corey Kafka (Mercer) would then be called on to finish the inning. After allowing a single, Kafka retired the next two Sherrill batters to successfully strand the tying run at second base.
After a scoreless eighth inning from Brandon Stephens (Georgia), the Outlaws called on their closer, Brandon Agar (North Georgia) to shut the door in the ninth.
After an error by the third baseman Howard Joe (Mercer) to start the inning, Agar retired the next two Silversmith batters with ease. Agar then ended the game in dramatic fashion, picking off pinch-runner Mike Piscopo (Northeastern) at second base to secure the Outlaws 2-1 victory.
Brandon Agar has been absolutely dominant thus far this season as the Oneonta closer. The right hander is a perfect four-for-four in save opportunities, sporting a miniscule 0.65 ERA while striking out 18 batters over 13.2 innings.
The Outlaws continue their three-game homestand tomorrow, June 28th, as they welcome the Syracuse Jr Chiefs (8-9) into town.
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