By NATE DISCAVAGE
SHERRILL, N.Y. — Last Friday, the Oneonta Outlaws were on the outside of the playoff bracket looking in. After Monday’s 11-4 win against the Sherrill Silversmiths in New York College Baseball League action, Oneonta sits in third place with a two-game cushion over the fifth-place Geneva Red Wings with seven games remaining.
Despite the lopsided score, the Outlaws did not control the entire game like Sunday night’s 10-1 and 13-1 doubleheader sweep of the Silversmiths.
Entering the top of the eighth inning at Noyes Park, Sherrill lead 4-3. Zach Taylor (Haverford College) had hit a solo home run and two-run double and Sherrill seemed on the path to ending their 12-game losing streak.
Trevor Putzig (Tennessee Tech University) led off the inning with a double before scoring on a Zach Blonder (Maryville College) RBI-single to tie the game at four. Ryan Nelson (Quinnipiac University) reached on an error to give the Outlaws a 5-4 lead and the game quickly fell apart for Sherrill.
Nicholas Spangler (Shippensburg University) hit a two-run single to blow the game open. Another error in the inning and back-to-back doubles by Putzig and Jordan “McClain” Bradley (Wofford College) accounted for four more runs in the eight-run frame.
Casey Hershfield (Pamona-Pitzer) suffered the loss for Sherrill. He allowed 11 runs (5 earned) on 12 hits in seven and two-thirds innings.
Outlaws’ reliever Terry Dugdale (Albany State University) pitched two and two-thirds innings of relief to earn his first win of the season. He surrendered three hits and two walk but did not give up a run to lower his ERA to 0.77.
Oneonta starter Jack Fleming (North Georgia College & St. University) did not factor into the decision on Monday as he pitched five and one-third innings, giving up four runs on five hits. The 6’1 lefty from Dacula, Georgia walked six and struck out seven.
In a game where eight of Oneonta’s nine starters registered at least one hit, Putzig led the way going 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs in the victory.
Taylor finished the night 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three RBI and a run scored.
Sherrill (7-35) travels to Onondaga Community College for a matchup with the Jr. Chiefs (23-19) in an attempt to end their 13-game losing streak.
Oneonta (21-17) returns home for a crucial doubleheader with the fifth place Geneva Red Wings (19-19). A sweep would reduce the Outlaws’ magic number to three games. Oneonta plays Geneva four times in their final seven regular season games.
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