WELLSVILLE, N.Y. — Brandon Ward (Indiana Southeast) went eight strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits, and earned his first win of the season as the Wellsville Nitros snapped the Rochester Ridgemen’s four-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory down in Wellsville Sunday night in an New York Collegiate Baseball League matchup.
The Edgewood, Kentucky native also struck out seven Rochester batters, as Rochester was not able to push any runs across until the eighth inning.
Rochester’s starter Casey Whittle (Union) was not all that bad either, as he went seven innings, only allowing two runs. The downside of his start was that he walked five batters and allowed seven hits, both season highs for the Danville, Kentucky native.
This was the first time the Ridgemen were held below three runs since seven days ago when they lost 4-2 to the Olean Oilers.
Wellsville, on the other hand, got their first win since June 17th, defeating Genesee 5-4.
The Nitros got their offense going in the fourth. They loaded the bases for Josh Beams (Indiana Southeast), and the leadoff man struck with a single, scoring both Jordyn Confer (Alfred State) and Christ Conley (Canisius) and making it 2-0.
Wellsville then extended the lead to 3-0 in the seventh. Gerard DeFillipo (Felician) grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, but that did not stop Cameron Balego (Mercyhurst Northeast) from crossing home plate, as he scored unearned and increased the lead.
The Ridgemen would try to battle back and almost completed the rally in the eighth inning. Catcher Matt Emge (Pittsburgh) drove a double into the gap, scoring Andy Santana (Geneva) and cutting the lead to 3-1. Emge then scored when Garrett Ruckel (Jacksonville) drove a single to the outfield, making it a one run game.
Colton Roberts (Toccoa Falls) could not tie the game, though. He grounded out to second to end the inning.
Forrest Kirsch (Marietta) came on in the ninth for Wellsville for the save, but it was far from smooth sailing. He hit Larry Vidaurre (Nyack) with a pitch, and then issued a two-out walk to Santana, putting the tying run in scoring position with two outs. Kirsch was able to record the final out however, getting Emge to pop out to the shortstop.
Benjamin Haefner (Buffalo) had another solid night for the Nitros, going 2-for-4.
On the other side, the Ridgemen weren’t able to get anyone to a multi-hit outing, and Shane Soria (Glendale CC) had his seven-game hitting streak snapped as he went 0-for-4.
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