By Dan Lonky (@danlonky)
ONEONTA, NY — The Oneonta Outlaws (9-7) and the Syracuse Jr Chiefs (9-9) were able to get in the first game of Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader, but the second game had to be stopped with two outs in the fifth inning due to rain.
Game one of Saturday’s doubleheader was a low-scoring affair, eventually resulting in a Jr. Chiefs victory behind starting pitcher Ryan Clark (North Carolina Greensboro).
Clark was looking to bounce back from giving up eight runs (six earned) on nine hits over four innings in an eventual 14-7 loss to the Outlaws just a bit over week ago.
The Jr Chiefs ace fared much better Saturday afternoon, as he threw all seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four and getting the win.
“Last time I was here I was just throwing fastball after fastball, mixing in a few changeups, and I wasn’t making adjustments during the game like I should’ve been. They really didn’t see many breaking balls and my breaking ball is my best pitch,” Clark said of his previous start against Oneonta. “Today I threw my breaking ball a lot more. They still hit the ball but the defense behind me really picked me up.”
On the mound for the Outlaws was Matt Milburn (Wofford), who didn’t have his best stuff Saturday, giving up two runs on seven hits through 4.1 innings. RBI singles from Brian Burns (Ithaca) and Connor Mathis (Mt Union) gave the Jr Chiefs a 2-0 lead, which they held through the first 5 innings.
After having faced the minimum through the first five innings, the Outlaws finally got to Clark in the sixth. They loaded the bases for left fielder Brian Kraft (Grand Canyon). Kraft, who has led Oneonta in RBIs all season, delivered a two-run single past the shortstop and into left field, tying the game 2-2.
In the seventh, Outlaws reliever Zach Moreau (Grambling St) came back out after tossing a perfect sixth. Against the first batter of the inning, the righty induced a ground ball to the third baseman Howard Joe (Mercer), who proceeded by sailing his throw right over the first baseman’s head, allowing the Jr Chiefs batter to reach and advance to second on the poor throw.
Oneonta manager Joe Hughes would then go to closer Brandon Agar to try to work out of the trouble. Syracuse pinch runner Nicholas Sinay (Buffalo) greeted Agar by immediately stealing third base. Aaron Pigna (Ave Maria) then delivered for the Jr Chiefs, singling to right and scoring Sinay. Agar then retired the next 3 batters he faced, but not before allowing the go-ahead run, putting the Jr Chiefs on top 3-2.
Moreau would be charged with the unearned run, as well as the tough-luck loss as the Outlaws couldn’t get anything going in the last of the seventh.
In game 2 of the doubleheader, the Jr Chiefs jumped all over Oneonta starter Malcolm Purdy for five runs over 2.1 innings.
The Outlaws fought back to score three runs in the fourth, highlighted by Evan Harasta’s (UAlbany) 2-run single.
Syracuse cashed in another run in the fifth on an RBI double by Connor Mathis, but then, with two outs in the fifth, the rain started. The down pour flooded the infield, deeming the field’s conditions too poor to play on.
The game was halted and will be resumed at a later date to be determined. The Jr Chiefs do not make another trip to Oneonta this season, but the Outlaws do travel to Syracuse for a pair of games on July 14th and 15th
The Outlaws play a non-league exhibition game tomorrow, June 30th, at Damaschke Field, while the Jr Chiefs will head to Sherrill to take on the Silversmiths.
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