By Kevin Smith
WEBSTER, NY – The Rochester Ridgemen scored four runs between the sixth and seventh innings to break a tie and pull away from the Syracuse Salt Cats for a win 6-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field Thursday night.
The Ridgemen have been on a roll of late, winning nine of their last 14 ball games and including six straight home games.
They continued their victory habits in remote fashion on a hot and muggy summer night at The Basket.
With the game already knotted up at two apiece, the Ridgemen began their journey to a W.
Ridgemen designated hitter Ryan Logan (Christian Brothers U) got things started in the bottom of the sixth with a lead off walk. After first baseman Nick Oddo (Cal St San Bernardino) hit a single to put runners on firs and second with no outs, second baseman Ben Circeo (Bluefield) hit a line-drive double to left center to score Logan and give the Ridgemen a 3-2 lead.
The baton was now passed to center fielder Matthew Simmons (Hendrix) who delivered an RBI single to score Oddo and bump the Ridgemen lead to 4-2.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Ridgemen struck again. With runners on first and second and two outs, Oddo hit a pop fly single to right center to score catcher Taylor Empkey (Eastfield) and Logan for a 6-2 Ridgemen lead.
“We were definitely grinding at the plate and got a couple bloop hits for runs,” Coach Taylor Hargrove said. “These guys are hard workers day and night.”
Ridgemen starting pitcher Dwayne Snider (Texas Lutheran) was dominant on the mound for Rochester. The righty went six solid innings, sacrificing six hit and two runs while fanning five batters.
Snider picked up his second win and improved his ERA to 1.65. The righty also increased his league-leading strikeout total to 53.
“When Dwayne throws low, he’s tough to hit,” Coach Hargrove added. “Snider has pitched well for us all season and he’s one of the pitchers in the league.”
The Ridgemen bullpen combined for three innings of scoreless ball, allowing one hit and striking out three to completely shut down the Salt Cats offense.
Oddo had a big night at the plate for Rochester. The first baseman went 3-for-4 at the dish with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Empkey also had three hits and drove in a run.
Carlos Guzman (Molloy) and Ben Sawyer (Alvernia) each collected two hits and an RBI for the Salt Cats.
Patrick Boyle (Wooster) took the loss. The left-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk in five innings of work. Boyle struck out three.
The same two teams meet Friday at Rockwell Field on the campus of LeMoyne College. C.J. King (Miss. Valley St.) (2-1/2.81 ERA) gets the ball for the Ridgemen. Ian Drapcho (Walsh) (1-1/4.61 ERA) toes the rubber for Syracuse. A 5 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.
Leave a Reply