By NATE DISCAVAGE
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Entering Sunday’s game, the Oneonta Outlaws had taken the first three games of a four-game series against the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs. George Max Navadel (St. Thomas Aquinas College) “stepped up to the plate” in his second start of the season and shut down Oneonta’s bid for a sweep at Onondaga Community College in New York College Baseball League action, Sunday afternoon.
Navadel pitched seven and one-thirds innings allowing one run on five hits The 6-3 junior from El Paso, Texas sent six Outlaws down via the strikeout for his third win of the season.
Oneonta did manage to strike first in the top of third. Tyler Bruno (Iona) stepped up with the bases loaded and one out and delivered an RBI-single to give Oneonta an early 1-0 lead.
After being held to only three runs in the first three games of the series, the Jr. Chiefs scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Syracuse took advantage of an early error to put runners on second and third with no outs before a wild pitch, Shane Trevino (University of Indiana-Purdue) RBI-single and a fielder’s choice helped the Jr. Chiefs tack three runs on the board.
Entering the top of the ninth, dominant closer Chris Pennell (St. Thomas Aquinas College) stepped onto the mound for the Jr. Chiefs. The Outlaws forced Pennell to bend, but could not make him break. He allowed a late run in the inning to bring Oneonta within one; however, the 6-0 righty from Momaroneck, New York earned his 11th save of the season. Pennell is now only two saves away from tying John Colella’s (Elmira) single-season league high since 2006 for most saves in a single season (13).
Oneonta starter Jack Fleming (North Georgia State University) turned in a strong start for the Outlaws, but it was not enough as the team’s winning streak came to a halt at four games. Fleming threw five and one-thirds innings and allowed only one earned run on three hits. He walked one and struck out six.
In a game lacking serious offensive production, Trevino led to way going 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Oneonta (16-15) will head back to Damaschke Field for a match-up with the Cortland Crush (21-15).
The Jr. Chiefs are off until after the All-Star break and finish up the first half of the season 20-18 after going just 10-21 in the first half of 2014.
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