By CODY LOVE
SYRACUSE, N.Y — The Salt Cats bats needed time to get going, but they took over the game when they did.
Luke Tevlin’s (Binghamton) 2-RBI single headlined a five-run explosion in the eighth inning as the Syracuse Salt Cats defeated the Sherrill Silversmiths 5-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Onondaga Community College, Thursday night.
The Salt Cats were silenced all night by Sherrill pitcher Chance Emlund (Dominican) as the Silversmiths built a 2-0 edge.
But Emlund returned to the mound in the eighth and allowed the first two hitters to reach base on a single and a walk.
At that point, William Fellows (St. Lawrence) took over for Emlund, and the Salt Cats pounced.
A Tim Hunter (Tyler Junior College) bunt single (his second of the day) loaded the bases with the dangerous Tevlin coming up for Syracuse.
He ripped a line drive single into right field that brought home two runs to tie the game.
“I didn’t want the walk, and he gave me a pitch to swing at, so I did the best I could with it,” Tevlin said.
With only his freshman season under his belt at Binghamton, Tevlin has been having a very good summer, leading his team in batting average (.323) and stolen bases (10).
“I’m feeling good, I’m seeing the ball really well,” Tevlin said. “I’m not waiting for the pitchers to give me a mistake, I’m trying to hit their best stuff.”
His eighth inning single also extended his hitting streak to ten games, as he finished the day 1-for-4 with an RBI, run, and stolen base.
Brian Bilello (Concordia, sacrifice fly), Julian Bilodeau (Palm Beach Atlantic, single) and Jose “Manny” Colon (Rutgers-Camden, sacrifice fly) also contributed RBI.
Salt Cats manager Mike Martinez was very happy with his team’s work to come back in the game.
“We finally settled down and started hitting pitches that are hittable,” Martinez said. “That’s fundamental baseball that I talk about all the time.”
Sherrill was in good shape until the eighth thanks to a fantastic performance on the mound by Emlund.
He was charged with two runs in the eighth, but also finished the day with seven strikeouts, allowing only three hits.
“If I can get a start like that every night, for a wooden bat league, that’s what we’re looking for,” Silversmiths manager Bob Shaffer said.
Syracuse also got strong work out of starting pitcher Anderson Burgess (Coppin State).
Burgess pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Although Sherrill’s two runs came while he was on the mound, neither was considered earned. Syracuse had four errors on the day.
“Anderson pitched well,” Martinez said. ” We didn’t make a couple of plays behind him, and he could have very easily come out of this game ahead, or at least tied.”
Luke Johnson (Bucknell) scored on a Connor Bowie (Mt. Aloysius) RBI single in the first after advancing to second on a two-out error on a pickoff attempt at first base while he tried to steal second.
Johnson went 2-for-5 on the day.
Bowie scored the second run on a Mitch Sloan (Ft. Scott CC) RBI single in the sixth after reaching base on a throwing error.
This was Sherrill’s first game with Bob Shaffer taking over the helm.
He had been a pitching coach for several years in the league, and he is now getting the opportunity to oversee the entire team.
“Now I have to run the offense and do the pitching at the same time,” Shaffer said. “It’s a little challenging, but I’m enjoying it.
“I’m hoping to get accustomed to all of these guys, and vice-versa.”
Tyler Clifford (SUNY Brockport) earned the win for Syracuse after pitching a scoreless inning of relief.
Salt Cats closer Kyle Taylor (Gloucester County) picked up his fifth save of the season after a ten pitch ninth inning.
The Salt Cats (15-9) and Silversmiths (5-17) meet again tomorrow in a doubleheader starting at 5:00.
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