By AUSTIN SPEAKER
ONEONTA, N.Y. — David Ehmen (Wofford) was strong on the hill Tuesday night as the Oneonta Outlaws won their New York Collegiate Baseball League season opener at Damaschke Field over the Sherrill Silversmiths, 6-2.
Ehmen needed just 91 pitches to throw seven shutout innings while striking out four, walking two, and allowing only three hits. His efficiency was stemmed from throwing strikes 58 percent of the time, while working ahead of batters allowed Ehmen to keep Sherrill off-base.
“He did a great job today,” said Oneonta manager Joe Hughes. “He probably could’ve gone another inning, or even finished the game, but with a 5-0 lead and a long seventh inning I decided to give my bullpen some work.”
Kyle Ackley (Iona College) and Joey Orlando (Binghamton University) covered the eighth and ninth innings out of the bullpen for Oneonta. A couple of walks and an error allowed Sherrill to score a pair of runs in the eighth, but Ackley was able to work out of danger. Orlando threw a clean ninth inning with two strike outs.
The late Sherrill effort wasn’t enough to overcome the early run support that allowed Oneonta to jump out 2-0 in the first.
Greg Saenz (Grand Canyon) led with a walk. After moving 90 feet on a wild pitch, Saenz came home on a CJ Krowiak (Binghamton) base hit. Krowiak eventually scored on a wild pitch.
“We were able to take advantages of walks and errors,” Hughes commented. “Capitalizing with runners in scoring position will definitely help you win ball games.”
Taylor Maxey (Tennessee Tech) led the sixth with a single off Sherrill reliever Chance Emlund (Dominican). Maxey moved to second on a ground ball and stole third before coming home on a Saenz RBI single.
Oneonta took advantage of a wild pitch and a bases load walk to add two more runs in the seventh.
The front six in the Outlaws lineup were able to record a base hit apiece. Maxey led the offense with three hits in four at bats, including a walk, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
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“We’re still figuring out what our guys can do, who can steal, who can bunt, etc,” Hughes added. “Even some of our outs were hard-fought and our men were able battle quality pitches. All I can ask for is for at the beginning of the season is productive at bats.”
Blonder went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Krider also had two hits in four trips with a base on balls and a run scored.
Jake Pendred (Saginaw Valley St.) started the Sherrill eighth with a single and was the first of three straight to reach. Pendred eventually scored when Luke Johnson (Bucknell) reached on a fielder’s choice. Daniel Lowndes (Siena) walked and scored in the inning.
Mitch Cavanagh (St. John’s) started and took the loss. The right-hander gave up two runs on five hits over five innings.
Oneonta will look for another win as they host the Geneva Red Wings, Thursday night. A 7 p.m. first pitch is scheduled at Damaschke Field.
Sherrill hosts the Syracuse Salt Cats, Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. at Noyes Park.
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