Oneonta rides hot bats, strong pitching to rout of Jr. Chiefs

By NATE DISCAVAGE

ONEONTA, N.Y. – The past two seasons have seen the Oneonta Outlaws represent the Eastern Division in the New York Collegiate Baseball League Championship Series. The Outlaws have a chance to make it three straight seasons. However, they have to make it past the upstart Syracuse Jr. Chiefs.

A strong pitching performance from Michael Bunal (SUNY-Binghamton) and equally strong performances at the plate from Jordan Bradley (Wofford College) and Zach Krider (University of South Carolina-Upstate) led Oneonta to a 12-2 victory in game one, Wednesday night at Damaschke Field.

Michael Elfreth (Widener University) worked a walk to lead off the top of the first before a bunt and two passed balls allowed him to give Syracuse an early 1-0 lead.

But back-to-back hit-by-pitches gave the Outlaws two runners in the bottom of the third before Bradley stepped up to the plate and hit the go-ahead two-run single. Bradley scored later in the inning on an RBI-single by Krider.

Philip Madonna (Siena College) hit a one-out single for the Jr. Chiefs only hit of the game in the top of the fourth. He managed to work his way around the bases and score on a bases-loaded walk to bring Syracuse within a run.

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The Outlaws buried any hope of a Jr. Chiefs comeback by breaking out for four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Trevor Putzig (Tennessee Tech University) highlighted the outburst with a two-run double.

After tacking on two more runs in the sixth inning, Oneonta used a bases-loaded walk, RBI-groundout and RBI-single from Putzig to extend their lead to 12-2.

Buhal pitched six and a third innings allowing two runs on a lone hit with seven strikeouts.

The Outlaws’ bullpen combined for two and two-thirds innings of perfect baseball to close out Syracuse.

James Wynne (Dean College) suffered the loss for the Jr. Chiefs. Wynne allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits in five and two-thirds innings. The 6’0 right-hander from North Salem, New York, issued two walks and sent three Oneonta batters down via the strikeout.

Bradley finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI, three runs and a walk for Oneonta. Teammate Krider went 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs.

The two teams head to Syracuse for a game two matchup at Onondaga Community College, Thursday. A 7 pm first is slated.