Courtesy of HornellDodgers.com
OLEAN, NY — The Hornell Dodgers scored seven runs in the fifth inning but needed to score four runs in the ninth to down the Olean Oilers 11-9 in a contest that featured more twists and turns than a soap opera. The Dodgers improve to 18-15 on the year while Olean is now 19-11.
The Oilers got on the board in the second inning when Kody Johnston (Brewton Parker) doubled home Mike Fahrman (University of Florida) who had led the inning off with a double.
Hornell sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth inning. After a walk to Steven Goldstein (Stony Brook), Spencer Scorza (Monroe CC) reached on an error, and Jordan Wheaton (Alfred State) reached on a catcher’s interference to load the bases. Jake Kenney (Genesee CC) and Chris Roeder (St. John Fisher) collected RBI singles, Sean McCracken (Southern Nevada) drew a bases loaded walk, Aaron Haag (Southeast Louisiana) hit a sacrifice fly, Anthony Renz (Mansfield) singled home a run, and Dylan Dunn (Hagerstown CC) drove what was called a ground rule double even though it appeared to have been a home run. Spencer Scorza (Monroe CC) capped the inning with a sac fly to give the Dodgers a 7-1 lead.
Olean did not go quietly and plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 7-5 and then added four more runs in the seventh to take a 9-7 lead.
The Dodgers were unable to get anything going in the eighth but after a groundout to lead off the ninth the blue & white started their rally. Haag reached on a fielding error, Michael Simmons (Montevallo) reached on a fielder’s choice, and Dunn cut the lead to 9-8 with his third hit of the night. Goldstein reached on another error to load the bases to set the table for Scorza who gave the Dodgers the lead for good when his hard hit grounder took a wicked hop over the seconc basemen and into right field scoring both Simmons and Dunn. Max Franzone (Finger Lakes CC) then reached on another error that plated Goldstein.
Eric Schell (Penn State Greater Allegheny) walked the leadoff man in the ninth but got the final three outs to seal the victory. Schell pitched 2.1 innings of relief allowing one hit and three walks while striking out three.
Dunn finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI while Wheaton was 2-for-3. Nick Boyd (Central Connecticut State) pitched the first six innings and allowed eight hits, five runs, and two walks but did not factor in the decision.
Julian Plana was 2-for-3 with two RBI for Olean while Johnston was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Mike Pascarella was 1-for-3 with three RBI.
The Dodgers host a pivotal doubleheader tomorrow when the Wellsville Nitros come to Maple City Park. First pitch of game one is at 4 p.m. and will begin in the top of the 1st with a runner on first base and no outs. The first game is the completion of a suspended game from last week and will be played nine innings. Game two will be a seven inning contest and will begin at 7 p.m.
The Dodgers lead the 17-15 Nitros by a 1/2 game entering play tomorrow. Olean continues to lead the NYCBL with a 19-11 mark followed by Oneonta (20-12) and the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs (19-15).
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