By CODY LOVE
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — For the third time this weekend, the Salt Cats fell victim to a big inning.
A six-run third provided all the offense the Oneonta Outlaws needed as they topped the Syracuse Salt Cats 7-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Onondaga Community College, Sunday night.
Although the Salt Cats had taken an early 1-0 lead, the Outlaws responded in a big way, collecting six hits and batting around the order.
The biggest play of the inning came after Trevor Putzig’s (Tennessee Tech) RBI single tied the game.
With the bases loaded and one out, Zachary Krider (South Carolina Upstate) ripped a deep shot back to the wall in left-center field that scored Putzig, Jessey Valdez (Dean College), and Tyler Martis (Siena) on a three-RBI double.
A walk by Zack Blonder (Maryville) and a single by Taylor Maxey (Tennessee Tech) loaded the bases once again for Oneonta.
Tyler Bruno (Iona), already with a single in the inning, hit another, scoring Krider and Blonder to make it a 6-1 game.
Maxey was tagged out on a throw from right field as he tried to advance to third, finally bringing an end to the inning.
It was also the end of the day for Syracuse starter James McCarty (SUNY Oneonta) after three innings of work.
Brian Bilello (Concordia) reached when he was hit by a pitch to start the second. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Cameron Dias (Rutgers-Newark) drove him home on an RBI single for the Salt Cats first run of the game.
Mike Diorio (Rider) came out of the Oneonta bullpen in the bottom of the second. He pitched three and a third for the win, allowing no runs and striking out five.
Evan Wilkes (Santa Ana College) finished the game for the Outlaws with four innings pitched and four strikeouts, allowing one earned run.
The Salt Cats had many opportunities to score more runs but were unable to bring runners home, leaving ten men on base for the game.
Syracuse loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with no outs, but Diorio bounced back with two strikeouts and induced an inning-ending ground ball fielders choice.
A storm brought heavy rain to the ballpark in the sixth, causing about a twenty minute rain delay before the bottom half of the inning started.
The Salt Cats pushed across their second run of the game in the sixth.
Evan Holland (Florida International) walked and then stole both second and third, and Adam Thoryk (Alma College) drove him in on an RBI single.
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Oneonta responded in the seventh run of the game in the next inning.
Putzig singled and stole second base, then was driven home on an RBI single by Valdez.
Other than that one run given up by Kyle Perez (SUNY Brockport), it was another strong outing by a Salt Cats bullpen put to work early.
Tyler Clifford (SUNY Brockport) pitched two innings while each of the remaining pitchers came in for an inning.
Clifford, Kyle Kuhr (Siena Heights), Perez, Myles Taylor (Coppin State), and Matthew Colon (Cumberland County College) combined for six innings pitched and three strikeouts while allowing only two hits.
Putzig and Bruno each went 2-for-3 for Oneonta, with Putzig collecting one RBI and Bruno picking up two.
Both starters had short outings, as Oneonta starter Patrick Shore (Stonehill College) was ejected from the game in the second inning.
The home plate umpire warned both benches.
A long discussion between Hughes and Salt Cats manager Mike Martinez at the end of the game, plus the team handshakes, seemed as though it may have diffused the tension.
“I hope so,” Hughes said. “We have respect for the Salt Cats.”
The Outlaws (7-7) are back at .500 after dropping below it for the first time since early in the 2013 season. They travel to Cortland on Tuesday for a doubleheader against the Crush (9-7) at Beaudry Park.
The Salt Cats (10-7) go on the road on Monday for an exhibition against the Elmira Pioneers of the Perfect Game Baseball League at Dunn Field. Their next NYCBL game is Tuesday back at OCC, but its an away game against the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs (8-9).
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