By KATIE FAULKNER
WELLSVILLE — Sam Rice (Ashland) helped the Wellsville Nitros snap a three-game losing streak with a 10-6 win over the Rochester Ridgemen in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Saturday.
Rice allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings of work. He struck out six before Carlos Tejeda (Bloomfield) took over for the final two innings, allowing three hits and retiring four.
“I just tried to mix up my pitches,” said Rice. “I’ve faced them three times, so I knew what to throw to keep them off balance.”
With just one error on the night, the Wellsville defense is not only improving but also taking the pressure off of their pitchers.
“I rely on my defense to make plays behind me and I just pitch to contact,” said Rice.
“Sam did a great job coming in after three straight losses,” said Wellsville coach Jason Cronin. “He threw strikes and pitched to contact early in the game and allowed us to get back out there and swing the stick.”
The Ridgmen struck first when Ethan Luna (Southwestern) connected for a solo home run in the first inning. However, Wellsville would answer when a Brian Wasilewski (U of Buffalo) sac fly plated Tyler Culpepper (Roane State CC) in the bottom of the first.
The Nitros extended their lead in the second when Jacob Means (Cowley County CC) singled and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Max Franzone (Dominican) drew his first of four walks before Cole Tracy (Finger Lakes) drove in Means to make the score 2-1.
Rochester never regained the lead.
Bram Wood (Olney Central) paced the offense for the Ridgemen going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Casey Claflin (Northwestern Ohio) added two RBI and scored a run. Devan O’Bryan (Drury) connected on a two-run homer in the ninth to reduce the Wellsville lead to 10-6, but the Rochester rally stopped there.
Jade Doyle (Ancilla) allowed six hits and six runs in four innings pitched for the Ridgemen. Reagan Lucia (Lubbock Christian) and Carson Ferry (Northland) combined for 1.3 innings pitched. Lucia allowed three runs on three hits.
After going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a home run in Friday’s 9-7 loss to the Rome Generals, Carson Shrode (Tennessee Martin) picked up where he left off, going 2-for-3 with four RBI and his second homerun in two days. The Nashville, Tennessee native has improved his batting average to .235 on the season.
Harry Montero Jr. (Bloomfield) went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Means added an RBI and scored twice.
“The guys are starting to get fatigued and there’s no better medicine than a win,” said Cronin. “But with that being said, in a closer ball game we’re going to need to clean up the things we still aren’t executing.”
The Nitros (8-14) host the Syracuse Salt Cats (10-7) on Sunday at 5 p.m.
The Ridgemen (5-18) are off until they take on the Hornell Dodgers (11-13) at Maple City Park on Monday at 7 p.m.
Leave a Reply