By CAMERON BOON
WEBSTER, N.Y. — Brandon Mumaw’s line going back to his college days at St. Leo all seem to have a common theme to them: the number zero in the walks column. Begins to look familiar for a guy who only walked three batters during his entire junior campaign.
It was there again tonight, as he went eight strong innings in a 3-1 winning effort over the Rochester Ridgemen in the rubber game of a three-game set in New York Collegiate Baseball League action Saturday night at Basket Road Field.
“I was really just up there trying to throw a first-pitch strike and then move on from there,” the starter said.
He was very successful in that department, throwing 22 first pitch strikes on his way to a 90-pitch outing that included 68 in the strike zone.
Rochester was rather successful in hitting that abundance of strikes, tallying nine hits on the night. But when only one crosses the plate and seven are stranded, that bounds to frustrate a manager who has seen his team held to one run three times this season.
“It’s been frustrating not only for me, but for the players,” Schallenberger said after a straight line was in their scoreline again tonight. “We continue to load the bases, but cannot seem to come up with the big hit.”
The lone run for Rochester came in the second inning, when Colin Winn (Santa Ana) crossed home. After reaching on a single and then advancing to second on a throwing error by fellow right fielder Ethan Hurt (Trevecca Nazarene), he strolled over to third on Tim Gurnow’s (Southwest Baptist) groundout.
Ryan O’Hearn (Hillsdale) then tallied one of his two bunt singles on the evening, grounding one up the first-base line, plating Winn while getting himself on base.
The second bunt single came on a pop up that landed right in the middle of Niagara’s pitcher, first baseman and second baseman, but Rochester could do nothing with it.
Niagara’s offense started early, with Hurt and two-hole batter Conner Combs (East Texas Baptist) tagging back-to-back singles to lead off the game.
But a lineout double play by Caleb Lang (Cairn) quickly put two outs on the board, and Ridgemen starter Tyler Taute (MidAmerica Nazarene) was able to work out of that.
“We’ve struggled offensively a little bit and it finally looks like it’s going to open up a little bit more,” Niagara manager Josh Rebandt said.
Taute was able to finish the day going six innings, allowing only two runs on seven hits.
“I did not know what to expect to be honest with you,” Schallenberger said about his surprisingly stout pitching staff to this point. “Right now, I don’t think I could have picked a better five.”
Niagara was able to tie the game in the fifth and then take the lead an inning later.
Gabriel Sevigny (Olivet Nazarene) drew a one-out walk, and then advanced to third after stealing second and moving to third on a throwing error that had to be given to Tim Gurnow (Southwest Baptist) though it appeared it was not his fault.
His throw went right between the shortstop and second baseman with nobody at the bag.
Sevigny then scored two pitches later on Jordan Hayes’ (Olivet Nazarene) single up the middle.
Niagara then took the lead in the following inning, on a Caleb Thomas (Colorado School of Mines) single up the chute that brought home Lang and gave the Power a 2-1 lead.
“I think our guys are starting to get more comfortable at the plate,” Rebandt said. This is evident in the team’s stats, as they are tied for the league lead in hits (42) and RBI (20) and are by themselves at the top of the leaderboard in total bases (59).
Combs scored the insurance run in the eighth on a Mason Irby (Jones County JC) RBI groundout.
The Ridgemen will host a Sunday afternoon game tomorrow against the Geneva Twins at Basket Road Field. A 5:00 p.m. first pitch is scheduled while the Power will take that day off before returning to action with a two-game stint against the Hornell Dodgers on Monday and Tuesday nights.
Both games at Maple City Park are scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. first pitch.
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