By SAVANNA COLLINS
CORTLAND, NY — With bats popping and pitchers hitting the marks, the revenge was sweet for the Crush in their first home game of the season.
After a loss to the Sherrill Silversmiths Monday night, the Crush won on Tuesday, May 31st in their second game of the New York Collegiate Baseball League 2016 season on Greg’s Field at Beaudry Park. David Murphy (UMass Boston) had an outstanding night at the plate, going 5-for-6 with a three-run home run, a double and three singles to contribute to the Crush’s successful offense.
The Crush got on the board after centerfielder Luke Gilbert (Brockport) laid down a bunt with bases loaded. Catcher Paul Ludden (Brockport) drove in two more with a single in the gap and Murphy had his first RBI of the night.
Murphy was not only hot at the plate but made key defensive plays at shortstop. The entire infield was tight on defense, turning multiple double plays.
Shae Edmonds (East Central) returned to the mound for the Crush for the second consecutive summer. In his debut outing he pitched 3.2 innings, gave up four hits and recorded one strikeout.
“I have a change up that I like to focus on throwing and a curve ball that I brought in the third inning,” Edmonds said. “I think it was my off speed that kept them off balance.”
Tom Cockill (Lock Haven) took the mound late in the game, pitching two innings and struck out the side.
The pitching staff for Sherrill struggled and Garrett Woods (Ozarks) took the loss.
Murphy said his ability to be able to quickly adjust to different pitchers throughout the game can be attributed to teammates.
“Ask questions around the dugout [to] guys who already faced them, see what they saw,” he said. “You take that into consideration any time you go up to the plate.”
The Crush has Wednesday off but will be back on the road again Thursday, June 2, to face the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs at Onondaga Community College at 7 p.m. Sherrill will travel to Onondaga on Wednesday to play the Syracuse Salt Cats at 7 p.m.
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