By KATIE FAULKNER
WELLSVILLE, N.Y. — Brian Feinauer picked up his first win of the season, and the Hornell Dodgers defeated the Wellsville Nitros, 8-5 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Thursday.
Feinauer allowed two runs on five hits over six innings of work. The 6-foot-4 left-hander struck out eight and walked three to help Hornell get back to .500.
“I was just trying to get ahead of the hitters early on,” said Feinauer. “I got in a lot of 0-2 and 1-2 counts and then I moved my fastball away and it seemed to work.”
Feinauer set down the side in order in the fourth and sixth innings. He worked out of a bases loaded, no-outs jam in the fifth. The Bay City, Michigan native credited his defense for backing him up.
“My defense has been really good lately, so I’ve just been trying to pitch to contact and let them do their thing,” said Feinauer.
The Nitros struck first when Nic Varda (Ashland) singled in his first at bat. Varda advanced to second on a passed ball before a Max Franzone (Dominican) single moved him into scoring position. A Brian Wasilewski (U of Buffalo) sacrifice fly brought in Varda to make the score 1-0.
However, Hornell scored two in the second and never trailed again.
Andy Brahier (Wisconsin Oshkosh) got the Hornell offense going with single. Brahier would advance to second on a pass ball, followed by two straight walks drawn by Connor Brandon (Concordia) and Tanner Klein (Mansfield). Tyler Burns (Trevecca Nazarene) advanced to first after being hit by a pitch, scoring Brahier. Zach Lopatka (Lackawanna) plate Brandon with a single to put Hornell up 2-1.
Lopatka paced the offense for the Dodgers going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Burns went 3-for-3 and drove in a run while Brandon blasted a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to cushion the Hornell lead.
Wellsville’s Michael DEletto (Central Methodist) allowed five hits and four runs in three innings pitched. Joshua Limes (Cowley County CC) gave up eight hits and struck out three in six innings of relief.
Despite many double-digit hit games over the last week, Wellsville was held to just eight hits. The Nitros also finished with seven runners left on base. Carson Shrode (Tennessee Martin) went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored, while Varda went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Tyler Culpepper (Roane State CC) added two hits.
The Nitros fell to 7-13 on the season while the Dodgers improved to 11-11.
Hornell travels to Olean on Friday to face the first-place Oilers (23-1) at 7 p.m.
The Nitros travel to Rome to take on the Generals (6-13) Friday at 7:05 p.m. The Nitros return home to face the Ridgmen on Saturday.
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