By PAUL GOTHAM
GENEVA, N.Y. — Cory Vogeli (Misericordia) picked up his third win of the season, and the Syracuse Salt Cats defeated Geneva’s Red Wings 3-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at McDonough Park, Friday night.
Vogeli scattered five hits over six shutout innings as the Salt Cats overcame an earlier setback and won for the fourth time in five games.
“The kid is a workhorse,” Salt Cats manager Mike Martinez said. “He’s a big, strong kid who gets in the gym game every day.”
The southpaw allowed a two-out single in the fourth and held the Red Wings hitless over his last two innings of work.
“He had more in the tank, but it’s a long season,” Martinez added. “We got a lot of games.”
Vogeli escaped a two-out jam in the third.
Geneva’s Alex Rodriguez (Methodist) singled, and Tanner Ivey (Alabama A&M) followed with a double. Vogeli ended the threat with a strike out.
“Fastball was working pretty well and the changeup too,” the Coram, New York native said.
Cameron Dias (Rutgers U-Newark) capped a two-out, two-run rally in the fourth as Syracuse jumped on the board.
“It was good to contribute to the win,” Dias said.
The Salt Cat first baseman drilled a hanging curve ball down the left field line plating Brian Bilello (Concordia) and Evan Holland (Florida International) on the play.
“Just see it deep and drive with the legs,” Dias said of his approach. “Hitting is bottom up, so I was just thinking legs, legs, legs.”
Geneva starter, Andrew Shreiner (Frederick CC) tossed 3.2 innings of no-hit ball before Billelo singled. Holland walked, and Dias took advantage of the opportunity.
“He left one up a little bit, and I was able to keep my hands back and drive down the left field line.”
Syracuse managed three hits off Shreiner over six innings and six hits total for the game. The Salt Cats rank ninth in the NYCBL with total hits.
“If we hit the way we pitch, we’d be very tough, and we’re in first place,” Martinez commented. “The long and short of the story is the guys got to be a little bit more cognizant of hittable pitches and when to hit those pitches.”
Matt Mastroianni (SUNY Oneonta) provided the eventual game-winner in the fifth. With the infield drawn and down 0-and-2 in the count, the Syracuse infielder fouled off five pitches before the lofting the 11th offering of the at bat into left field for a sacrifice fly.
“I was just trying to get my foot down early and put something in play,” Mastroianni explained. “Looked for a pitch high up in the strike zone since the infield was in and put something in the outfield.”
Timothy Hunter (Tyler JC) came home on the play to give the Salt Cats a 3-0 advantage. Hunter started the inning with a base on balls. Adam Thoryk (Alma Coll) moved the runner with a ground ball. A passed ball later and Mastroianni delivered on the chance.
“He’s a solid veteran college baseball player,” Martinez said of Mastroianni. “He knows how to play.”
It appeared the Salt Cat bullpen would put the game on ice.
Myles Taylor (Coppin State) retired the all three batters he faced in the seventh. Tyler Clifford (SUNY Brockport) followed suit in the eighth.
Kyle Taylor (Gloucester County Coll) quickly set down the first two he faced in the ninth.
Then it nearly unraveled.
Lucas Zilli (Michigan State) walked. As did Harry Roberson (Amherst). Matt Omori (Pomona-Pitzer) loaded the bases with the third consecutive free pass.
AJ Compton (Elmhurst) singled home Geneva’s first run of the game. Casy Kies (SUNY Oneonta) brought home another with the fourth walk of the inning.
Rodriguez worked a full count before sending Taylor’s offering into left field for the final out.
“I like that we were patient up to full counts and allowed the runners to get in motion,” Geneva’s manager Ryan Kassab said.
Taylor earned his third save of the season.
“He’s got to keep his composure,” Martinez said of his reliever. “When he’s on, he’s on. When he’s off, he’s still on, but he’s got to understand you’re not going to get a strike call every time.”
Geneva fell to 6-5 on the season. Friday’s was the fourth one-run loss in the early going of the season. Kassab pointed to the leadoff walk which eventually became the winning run for Syracuse.
“Five times they scored on us in the last two days are innings that we put them on,” Kassab noted. “I think at one point (tonight) they had three runs on two hits. That’s what walks do to you.”
Kassab liked the way his team battled back.
“We’re one pitch from either tying it or winning it in the bottom of the ninth. I’m still happy overall. The guys battle. We need a little bit more of a spark.”
Geneva made quick work of the opener – a game suspended in the middle of eighth inning because of rain with the score tied at one.
Rodriguez knocked a one-out single. Zach Wingate (Birmingham Southern Coll) reached on an error. Tommy O’Hara (Tufts) loaded the bases, and Tanner Ivey brought home two with a base hit.
“I thought that was really going to set the tone for the second game,” Kassab said. “We came out hot. It was right there.”
Kevin Elwell (Elizabethtown) retired the side in order in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Vince Appicella (Carson-Newman) allowed one run on five hits over innings for his first win of the season.
The same two teams meet again Saturday for a doubleheader at Onondaga Community College. A 4 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.
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