By CAMERON BOON
WEBSTER, N.Y. — In his first eight offensive appearances for the Rochester Ridgemen, Tyler Taute’s (MidAmerica Nazarene) stat line was a less than impressive 2-for-17 with two runs scored, one RBI and a pair of strikeouts. In the two games since then, he is 3-for-7 with four RBI and Sunday night he had two of those.
Taute’s two-run triple down the right field line capped a three-run fifth for Rochester giving them a 4-3 lead over the Niagara Power, and that was the last scoring of the game in a victory the Ridgemen needed to inch closer in the playoff hunt in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field.
“I’m just trying to take it one day at a time,” Taute said. “God-willing, good things will start to happen.”
The hybrid pitcher-first baseman has seen increased confidence all over the field, with his ERA on the mound dropping to a season-low 1.31 ERA and his batting average is above the .200 mark for the first time this season, sitting at .208.
“He’s had some really good swings and it starting to pick the team up,” Ridgemen head coach Joe Shallenberger said.
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The Ridgemen at the time were down 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, partly because of some shaky defense and in part because Caleb Dougherty (Abilene Christian) was not on his best stuff throughout his seven innings of work.
“He struggled tonight, but battled,” Shallenberger said.
Only one of the three runs allowed by Dougherty was earned, and it came in the top half of that fifth inning. Mason Irby (Jones County JC) crossed home on a bases loaded fielder’s choice by Jessep Polk (North Greenville), but they would strand the remaining two runners in the inning.
That was two of nine left on for the Power in the game as they could not take advantage of two Rochester errors, only manufacturing three hits and none of them drove in a run.
“We just couldn’t get the big hit tonight,” Niagara head coach Josh Rebandt said.
It was a poor offensive effort to back up starter Nathan Robinson (Cedarville), who pitched eight strong innings, allowing only one run on three hits outside of that game-deciding fifth frame. He struck out eight Ridgemen, including Michael DiViesti (Butler) who fell victim to the backwards ‘K’ three times, but surrendered five walks.
“His curveball was really tight and he had good command,” Rebandt said.
The walks hurt him, as two of them ended up turning into runs.
One of those walks who scored was Colin Winn (Santa Ana), who had another outstanding game, extending his streak of multi-hit games to four.
“Colin Winn is a ballplayer,” Shallenberger said in the simplest of terms. “He’s being patient and getting his pitch to hit. As a result, he’s being successful.”
Niagara started early, tallying two early runs on Dougherty, each of which were unearned.
Paul Bretton Jr. (Florida Southern) scored on a throwing error by Rochester shortstop Aaron Vallance (Wayland Baptist) to make it 1-0. Caleb Lang (Cairn) scored to make it 2-0 on a suicide squeeze by Bryan Klendworth (Olivet Nazarene).
The Ridgemen cut the lead in half in the third on a Ryan O’Hearn (Hillsdale) fielder’s choice that scored Armando Valentin (Benedict), also an unearned run.
Polk’s fielder’s choice made it 3-1 Niagara, before Rochester took the lead for good in the bottom half. Preceding Taute’s big hit, Winn scored on Devan O’Bryan’s (St. Louis CC Meramec) single up the middle.
What looked like a routine double play turned wild when the ball caromed off second base and into center field, allowing the run to score easily and the inning to continue.
Taute then took the first pitch he saw and laced it into the right field corner, scoring two and giving Rochester all they would need for a victory.
After Luke Brown (Rollins) walked the leadoff man in the eighth, he and Jake Purcell (Clearwater Christian) combined to retire the final six batters they saw, putting Rochester a half of a game back in the Western Division playoff race as the All-Star break approaches.
“Jake had a lefty to start the inning, and then it’s just a matter of Jake throwing with confidence,” Shallenberger said. Brown recorded his first hold of the season, while Purcell recorded his second save of the season in as many days.
With the win, Rochester knots the season series at three between the two faith-based teams. Niagara and Rochester close the regular season on Friday, July 24th.
The Ridgemen are off Monday before hosting the red-hot Geneva Twins on Tuesday night at Basket Road Field for a 7:00 p.m. start.
Niagara heads to Bradner Stadium tomorrow for a doubleheader with the Olean Oilers, who end the day tied with the Genesee Rapids for the final playoff spot. Game one is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. in Olean.
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