By Nate Discavage
ONEONTA, N.Y. –The Olean Oilers (2-7) had lost their last seven games (five of them by 1 run) entering Saturday’s game against the Oneonta Outlaws (4-2). Trailing 5-0 in the sixth inning, Olean didn’t lose faith. A 4-run sixth and a 3-run eight gave the Oilers a lead they would desperately hold onto as they defeated Oneonta 7-6 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Damaschke Field, Saturday night.
Oilers’ starter Frank Rubio (University of Florida) earned the hard fought win. He went seven strong innings and struck out 11 batters on 123 pitches (89 strikes). Outlaws’ closer Brandon Agar (University of North Georgia) came into the game in the 8th to attempt a 5-out save. He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in a losing effort and earned his first blown save of the season.
Oneonta got off to a hot start. Taylor Jones’ (University of North Georgia) RBI-groundout and a dropped third strike in the second gave the Outlaws an early 2-0 lead. Matt Haggerty (Grand Canyon University) added an RBI single in the third, and a 2-run error by Olean in the fifth gave Oneonta their 5-0 lead.
Stevan DeLuca (New England College) gave Olean their first run with a one-out RBI single before an error and 2-run single by Ryan Kohlhofer (Defiance College) brought the Oilers within one.
Matt Lepri (Aquinas College) hit a 2-out 2-run double in the bottom of the eighth to give Olean their first lead of the game. James Ott (Bloomsburg University) immediately followed up with an RBI single giving the Oilers a much needed insurance run.
Oneonta was not ready to go down without a fight. Jones lifted a one-out double to left center in the bottom of the eighth. He swiped third base and was able to trot home after DeLuca’s throw to third flew over the third baseman’s head into left field.
The Outlaws struck fear into the Oilers’ heart in the bottom of the ninth. Ben Mauseth (Grand Canyon University) led off the inning with his third hit of the game and stole his third base of the night to get to second with nobody out. Matt Bolger (University of South Alabama) walked to give Oneonta two runners on with no outs. Closer Kevin McMahon (El Camino College) then forced three weak popups to nail down the save for the Oilers.
When the dust settled, there was nobody on the field more proud of Olean than Head Coach Bobby Bell. “It’s good to see they could fight. They were down a little bit, came back, and pulled it off.” He pointed out their resiliency and ability to stay level headed.
Outlaws’ coach Joe Hughes was disappointed with the loss but looks to rally his team for their game tomorrow in Syracuse against the Salt Cats. Coach Hughes wants his team to “learn from it, show up tomorrow, compete, and play some better baseball.”
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