By Alicia Daddario
SYRACUSE, NY — The Salt City rivals, the Jr. Chiefs and the Salt Cats, faced off Friday evening at LeMoyne College for a double header. While pitching gave the Salt Cats a win yesterday against the Geneva Red Wings, it was their downfall in both games. The Jr. Chiefs dominated game one by a score of 7-1 and hung to win the second game 10-7.
The Syracuse Jr. Chiefs have played three straight double headers, including Firday’s pair of wins against the Salt Cats. Head coach Chirs Haynes complimented his pitching staff who showed resilience and strength the past few days.
“They’ve been great lately. I mentioned earlier in the year, if we can give up two, three, four runs, we should be able to win a lot of games. And that’s what we need to do. With all the games, we’ve been a little short on our bullpen. So we need our starters to go deep, and they did that. I was happy with both our guys today.”
On the mound for the Jr. Chiefs in game one was Elvin Jorge (Keystone), pitching for the first time this season. Jorge allowed one run through six innings of work, giving up four hits and striking out two for his first win. Patrick Boyle (Wooster) got the assignment to face Jorge, and Boyle’s night was much rougher. Boyle took the loss after pitching three and 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on five hits, walking three and striking out one.
Kenny Hostrander (Eastern Kentucky) scored the first run of the game in the top of the second for the Jr. Chiefs. Hostrander was on the base paths after singling with one out. All-Star Aaron Pigna (Ave Maria) capitalized with a man on board with a two out RBI double, scoring Hostrander. Chiefs led 1-0.
The Salt Cats quickly answered back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Cristian Fiorito (Concordia) and Ben Sawyer (Alvernia) both earned walks to start the inning off. The designated hitter, Tucker Starkey (Ave Maria), took full advantage with a RBI single, which allowed Fiorito to score. Game knotted at one.
The Jr. Chiefs erupted for five runs in the fourth inning. Brian Burns (Ithaca) was hit by a pitch, followed by a Hostrander and Pigna walk. Due to a wild pitch, Burns crossed the plate. The inning was far from over. Lead off hitter Connor Mathis (Mt. Union) reached first base on an error by first baseman Zach Carlino (Mt. Union). Hostrander scored on the error, putting the Chiefs up 3-1. Alex Caruso (St. John’s) flied out to right field and tagging on the play was Pigna. All-Star Stanley Susana (St. Thomas Aquinas) continued the rally with a two-run shot over the Rockwell Field wall. The Jr. Chiefs ended the inning up 6-1.
The Jr. Chiefs had one more run in them for game . Catcher Noel Garcia (Northwood) RBI singled to left field, scoring Burns for the last and final run for the Chiefs.
The Salt Cats had a two-run seventh inning rally but fell short of a full comeback. Catcher Kyle Feazell (Louisiana) led off the inning with a walk. Replacing him at first base was pinch runner Anthony Massicci (Canisius), hoping that speed would spark the rally. Next batter, Tucker Starkey (Ave Maria) was hit by a pitch to put runners on for Carlos Guzman (Molloy), who reached first on a fielder’s choice, scoring Massicci. Bud Morton recorded the last RBI for the Salt Cats with a single to left field as Guzman rounded the bases.
It was not enough and the Salt Cats fell to the Jr. Chiefs 7-1.
The second game was not any better for the Salt Cats as the Jr. Chiefs opened up the scoring flood gates in the first against Salt Cats starter Ian Drapcho (Walsh).
Pigna started with a single, followed by Drapcho issuing three straight walks to Susana,Nick Sinay (University at Buffalo) and Patrick Wright (LeMoyne), which allowed Pigna to touch home plate for the first run of the game. Brian Burns cashed in for a two-run double to left field. Connor Martin (Clarkson) knocked in the last run of the inning with a ground out to first, allowing Burns to score. The Jr. Chiefs took a 5-0 lead.
Guzman scored a lone run in the bottom of the first, as he singled, made his way to third base, and scored on a wild pitch by Chiefs starter Mike Sgroi (Onondaga CC).
The Jr. Chiefs scored another run in the second inning as Mathis walked and scored on a Susana RBI double. Chiefs led 6-1 after two innings but would tack on two more runs in the fourth, one more in the fifth and a monster home run by John Cialone (Villanova) totaled the run count at 10 for the Chiefs on the night as the Salt Cats offense continued to struggle.
However, the Cats did not go down without a fight. Bottom of the sixth inning, the Salt Cats played brlliant offensive baseball, scoring five runs of their own to get within two runs. Leading off the inning was Fiorito with a double to left center field. Colton Montgomery (Georgia Coll & St. U) reached on an error, setting up Mike Mascari (Oswego St.), who entered the game defensively for Guzman. Mascari ripped one up the middle for an RBI single, scoring Fiorito. Feazell hopped on the RBI train, with a single of his own scoring Montgomery.
The same two teams meet again Saturday. Ryan Clark (3-2/UNC Greensboro) gets the ball for the Jr. Chiefs. Zach Tucker (0-0/Le Moyne) will toe the rubber for the Salt Cats. First pitch at Rockwell Field is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The Salt Cats (13-14) fall below .500 for the first time this season.
The Jr. Chiefs (18-10) have won 10 of their last 11 and trail first-place Olean by one game.
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