Oneonta rallies in 9th, walks off in 10th

By NATE DISCAVAGE

ONEONTA, N.Y. — The Oneonta Outlaws have been no stranger to come-from-behind victories in 2015. In three of their 10 victories this season, the Outlaws have found themselves trailing or tied headed into the eighth inning. Even in defeat, the Outlaws remain one of the toughest teams to put away in the New York Collegiate Baseball League — going as far as scoring six unanswered runs after trailing 10-1 against the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs on Thursday night. The narrative did not have change by much, however, on Friday.

Oneonta salvaged a series split beating the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs 3-2 in 10 innings Friday night at Damaschke Field.

Griffin Barnes (Grand Canyon University) stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning with the bases loaded and no outs before knocking the game-winning walk-off single to score Zach Blonder (Maryville) and give Oneonta the win.

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Despite the late-game heroics by Barnes, it was pitching that stole the spotlight Friday night. Although neither starter factored into the decision, Michael Adams (Albany) and Ramon Wild (St. Bonaventure University) both had outstanding performances for Oneonta and Syracuse respectively.

Adams pitched eight and two-thirds innings allowing two runs on five hits. He fanned nine batters and walked two.

Wild went seven innings deep for the Jr. Chiefs. He allowed an unearned run four hits while striking out five and walking two.

Trevor Putzig (Tennessee Tech University) led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk before eventually coming around to score on an RBI ground out by Blonder to give Oneonta the 1-0 advantage.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Shane Trevino (IPFW) led off the top of the second with a double. Samuel Ellinwood (Amherst College) knotted the game 1-1 with a one-out RBI single, scoring Trevino.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the ninth when Syracuse took the lead after a dropped third strike allowed Philip Madonna (Siena) to scurry home with the go-ahead run.

Christopher Pennell (St. Thomas Aquinas College), who earned the save in Thursday’s victory for the Jr. Chiefs, came on to try and shut down the Outlaws for the second straight night. He recorded two quick fly outs before Tyler Martis (Siena) singled and Jessey Valdez (Dean College) was hit by a pitch. Putzig stepped up and hit a two-out single to tie the game at two.

Two walks and a misplayed bunt loaded the bases for Oneonta in the bottom of the 10th before Barnes sent the home fans happy.

Joey Orlando (Binghamton) earned his second win of the season for the Outlaws. He pitched one and two-thirds innings allowing only one hit and striking out two.

Pennell suffered his second loss of the season.

The Jr. Chiefs (11-11) get a day off before traveling to Sherrill for a two-game road series followed by a doubleheader in Syracuse.

Oneonta improved to 10-8 on the season. Due to a scheduling conflict at Onondaga Community College, the Outlaws’ game against the Syracuse Salt Cats originally scheduled for Saturday has been postponed. Oneonta now gets two days of rest before traveling to Geneva for a doubleheader with the Red Wings (12-8).