By CODY LOVE
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — This time the Salt Cats benefitted from a big inning.
A pair of two-RBI hits from Lucas Tevlin (Binghamton) and Brian Bilello (Concordia) were the centerpiece of a four-run eighth inning that brought the Syracuse Salt Cats a 5-4 victory over the Sherrill Silversmiths in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Onondaga Community College on Friday night.
After a couple of games over the past week where the Salt Cats fell victim to big innings from their opponents, manager Mike Martinez was happy to see his team turn the tables.
“The guys hit the ball and played fundamental baseball,” Martinez said. “Most importantly we got guys on base and we were able to move players.”
Silversmiths starter Nick Banman (Ft. Scott CC) held Syracuse quiet for most of his seven innings of work. The Salt Cats went right to work against his replacement, Casey Hershfield (Pomona-Pitzer).
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Walks by Kyle Kuhr (Siena Heights) and Evan Holland (Florida International) and a single by Adam Thoryk (Alma College) loaded the bases with no out, still trailing Sherrill 3-1.
Tevlin then hit a two-RBI single, reaching second while Holland was beating out the tag at the plate.
Tevlin had two hits on the day, and now has a seven-game hit streak.
“(He’s) been hot for the past three weeks,” Martinez said. “He’s doing a heck of a job, and he’s doing what he’s supposed to do.”
Bilello was up next and ripped a line drive double, scoring Thoryk and Tevlin.
“I jumped on the fastball,” Bilello said. “Got ahead in the count and hit it where it was pitched.”
He had three RBI on the day after knocking in the Salt Cats’ first run on a single in the fourth.
The five runs were all the Salt Cats needed, but the Silversmiths made things interesting in the ninth.
Pinch hitter Daniel Lowndes (Siena) started things off by getting hit by a pitch from Jahmoy Williams (Genesee CC) who was on to close the game. He then stole second and reached third on a balk.
After Mitch Sloan (Ft. Scott CC) walked and an infield popup registered as the first out of the inning, Luke Johnson (Bucknell) brought home Lowndes with a groundout to third.
Sloan had made it to second on defensive indifference and moved to third on the groundout, meaning the tying run was just ninety feet from home.
But Zach Taylor (Haverford) lined out to Holland in center field for the final out of the game, securing the save for Williams.
The game was Sherrill’s fifth loss in their last six games, meaning an excellent start by Nick Banman went to waste.
In his seven innings of work, Banman allowed just four hits and one run, striking out six.
“He gave everything he had,” Silversmiths manager Matthew Rafte said, “It’s tough we couldn’t get him the W.”
Nicholas Radich (Pomona-Pitzer) also pitched well for Sherrill in relief of Hershfield in the eighth.
He stranded a Syracuse runner at third while getting all three outs, two of which were strikeouts.
Tyler Clifford (SUNY Brockport) started his first game for Syracuse after making five relief appearances for the team.
He pitched well over five and two-thirds innings, striking out five and allowing two runs.
It was only through the strong pitching of Banman that he left the game in line for the loss.
“Knowing Cliff’s a starter and ready, we figured we’d put him in and he did a heck of a job,” Martinez said, “He’s a seasoned college pitcher and we’re happy to have him.”
Erik Johansen (SUNY Oneonta) picked up the win for Syracuse after two and one third innings of relief in which he allowed one run unearned while striking out five.
Jake Dyer (Ft. Scott CC) led the hitting for Sherrill, going 2-for-4 with a single, a double, and an RBI.
The Salt Cats (13-8) have taken the first two in a three-game series with the Silversmiths (4-15).
They will have home-field advantage as they look for the sweep on Saturday. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Onondaga Community College.
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