By Jared Wicks
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Oneonta Outlaws broke up a scoreless game in the eighth en-route to a 4-2 win over the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs in New York Collegiate Baseball League play at Onondaga Community College, Monday night.
Outlaws Matt Pelt (Wofford College) capped a three-hit night with a triple to lead the top of the eighth inning.
Kyle Brennan (University of Buffalo) hit a slow ground ball back to the pitcher John Bednarek (St Thomas Aquinas College) who looked Pelt back to third. But in mist of the keeping the runner at third, Bednarek threw high to first base both allowing Brennan to reach and Pelt to score.
Kody Ruedisili (Wofford College) hit a single to advance Brennan to third and continue the offense.
Ben Mauseth (Grand Canyon) singled and scored Brennan to make it 2-0 before an out was recorded.
A batter later Daniel Fickas (South Carolina Upstate) hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Ruedisili for a 3-0 lead.
Finally Thomas Jordan (Northwood University) came in to replace Bednarek and get the second out. Jimmy Hand (Northeastern University) followed with his only hit of the game scoring Mauseth and capping the inning and night for Oneonta at four runs.
“A great night for two Wofford boys” said Outlaws coach Joe Hughes about Pelt and Ruedisili. “Pelt was sick last week so tonight was his first time in the lineup in two weeks and he had a great night at the plate.”
Pelt was 3-4 with the triple, a walk and a stolen base.
Heading into the eighth inning the story was pitching.
Jr. Chiefs Zack Zareva (Manhattanville College) tossed a solid four and two thirds. He worked out of a jam in the second inning when Ramon Osuna Sanchez (College of Charleston) doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch with no outs. The southpaw from Warren, N.J. induced two infield pop outs and a ground out to end the threat.
“I thought he pitched great, he was up the pitch count and was seeing the lineup a second and third time so I decided to switch things up.” Jr. Chiefs head coach Chris Haynes said of why he pulled Zareva in the fifth. “Him and Cooper (Belyea) were working well together.”
His replacement Bednarek may have got the loss (2-2) but before the eighth was great. Bednarek struck out five in the sixth and seventh alone.
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Outlaws starter Alec Romanowski (Stevenson University) had a great night also pitching just four and a third of shutout ball striking out three before his pitch count got up too.
“He (Romanowski) knows how to pitch”. Hughes said. “He doesn’t have overpowering stuff but he mixes his pitches well…He looks like a mild mannered guy, but he’s a competitor.”
Joseph Romero (University of Albany) threw an an inning and two-thirds of scoreless ball.
Jaren Drummond (Grand Canyon College) picked up the win (2-0) pitching the seventh, eighth and getting one out in the ninth. Drummond gave up two runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out three.
Jr. Chiefs pinch hitter Mark Martin (Bryant University) reached on an error to start the eighth. Carlos Tapia (Siena College) followed with a single and one out later Matt Kozuch (Fordham University) brought home the run with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Drummond was pulled in the ninth when Syracuse loaded the bases with one out.
Brandon Agar (North Georgia College and State University) got the save, his fourth after facing just two batters getting a ground out and strike out.
Nate Stemle (Kentucky Wesleyan College) scored the J-Chiefs second run from third on the first ground out.
For Syracuse, Thomas Eng (Adrian College) came in to replace Jordan in the ninth and was lights out like he has been all season. Eng struck out two of the four batters he faced to keep the J-Chiefs in the game.
“He (Eng) is a closer in college and plays the field, that kind of prevents him from longer outings” Coach Haynes said about why Eng doesn’t see more innings as the team’s best pitcher.
Mauseth collected two hits, scored a run, drove in one and stole a base for Oneonta. Ruedisili was 3-5 with a run scored.
Gabe Levanti (Northeastern University) led the Jr. Chiefs going 2-5.
“It’s never a normal game here” Outlaws coach Hughes said after the game in reference to the thirty minute rain delay that pushed back the first pitch time.
The Outlaws have seen rain in all three trips to OCC Stadium this year with two of the games resulting in delays.
Oneonta (21-14) trails Geneva (21-12) for first place in the Eastern Division. The Outlaws are 8-2 in their last ten games.
The Jr. Chiefs (12-25) hope to avoid bad weather and a sweep as they travel to Oneonta, Tuesday night for the third game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00pm.
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