By CODY LOVE
ONEONTA, N.Y. — It took one big inning to get the Salt Cats offense back on track.
Trailing the Oneonta Outlaws 6-1, the Syracuse Salt Cats took advantage of a six-run fifth inning en route to a 10-7 victory in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Damaschke Field on Tuesday night.
In the game between these two teams the previous night, the Salt Cats were held to just one run over ten innings, and Outlaw starter David Ehmen (Wofford) seemed to have them contained again until an error brought Lucas Tevlin (Binghamton) home in the fourth after a sacrifice bunt by Brian Bilello (Concordia).
It was errors by Oneonta that got the Salt Cats started in the fifth as well, with Brandon Cornelius (Rutgers-Camden) and Matt Mastroianni (SUNY Oneonta) getting on base as a result.
Evan Holland (Florida International) ripped a double down the third base line that brought them both home to make the score 6-3.
Anthony Galanoudis (Molloy) singled and stole second. Tevlin walked, loading the bases and bringing an end to Ehmen’s day.
Nate Williams (Western Carolina) came on in relief, but issued a free pass to Bilello making it a 6-4 game.
Jose “Manny” Colon (Rutgers-Camden) then hit a 2-RBI line drive single down the right field line to tie the game. Bilello moved to third on the play.
“He missed the first pitch high and I knew he had to come at me,” Colon said. “I just sat on the fastball and I got lucky and found a hole.”
Another Outlaw miscue led to the go-ahead run as a pitch to Adam Thoryk (Alma) went into the dirt and got away from catcher Jessey Valdez (Dean College) allowing Colon to reach second.
Bilello broke for home on Valdez’s throw and the return was errant, giving the Salt Cats a 7-6 lead.
The Outlaws saw a great start to the game, in which they put up three runs in both the first and the fourth, go to waste, as a result of six errors on the day.
“Defense has to step up,” said Outlaws Assistant Coach Lane Potter, who filled in for manager Joe Hughes for this game. “Blowing a 6-1 lead to these guys is pretty deflating.”
Jordan “McClain” Bradley (Wofford) got them on the board first with a line drive RBI single into right field.
Later, Jacob Benefield (Indiana U Southeast) came to bat with the bases loaded and hit a 2-RBI groundball single to left field to make it 3-0.
In the fourth, a throwing error at second allowed Valdez to score, then a 2-RBI single by Tyler Bruno (Iona) brought the Outlaws their 6-1 advantage, which would last less then an inning.
Salt Cats reliever Kyle Kuhr (Siena Heights) did not get a decision, but notably preserved the lead in a long night of relief, pitching three innings in which he allowed just one run and frustrated the Outlaw hitters.
“Today my curveball was working,” Kuhr said. “I think that kept them off balance.”
“He’s fundamentally sound and works hard,” Salt Cats Manager Mike Martinez said. “When guys like that come out and compete, we win games.”
After a rough start, Tyler Clifford (SUNY Brockport) ended up picking up the win as he settled down and hung around through the fifth.
Williams was charged with the loss despite pitching two and two thirds innings of solid relief and not allowing an earned run.
Kyle Taylor (Gloucester County College) picked up the save.
Mastroianni went 3-for-5 at the plate, including a 2-RBI single that provided crucial insurance in the eighth. He also had an amazing day on the basepaths, stealing four bases.
The Salt Cats (19-11) won both games in Oneonta in this best of four series.
The Outlaws (12-14) will try to do the same in Syracuse on Wednesday night in order to salvage the split.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 at Onondaga Community College.
Leave a Reply