By KATIE FAULKNER
WELLSVILLE, N.Y. — After handing the Olean Oilers their first home loss on Sunday, the Wellsville Nitros were unable to win on their home field as the Oilers snapped Wellsville’s four-game winning streak 12-4 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Tuesday.
After a quick three up, three down first inning for both teams, Olean’s Alex Griffith (U of Pittsburgh) connected on an RBI double to score Mark Koloszvary (U of Florida). However, Wellsville answered after Harry Montero Jr. (Bloomfield) sent one over the fence for his fifth home run of the season.
Olean began to pull away in the fourth when David Hollins (St. Petersburg) connected on a leadoff double. Aaron Phillips (St. Bonaventure) would double immediately after, plating Hollins. Phillips scored on a passed ball to make the score 3-1.
The Nitros tried to close the 7-1 gap in the sixth with a Tyler Culpepper (Roane State CC) double, followed by a Max Franzone (Dominican) single. With runners on the corners, Jacob Sims (Roane State CC) connected on a two-RBI double to plate both Culpepper and Franzone.
The Wellsville rally ended there, as Olean scored a run in every inning after the third.
Ian Luttrell (Marietta) got the win on the mound for Olean after giving up three runs on five hits in 5.2 innings pitched. Chris Dipilato (Nichols) and Kaden Darrow (Marymount) combined for the final 3.1 innings. Darrow gave up four hits and was credited with the save.
“Ian usually comes out of our bullpen, but we had an arm go down earlier in the year, so he got the start today and did great,” said Olean coach Bobby Bell. “We were hoping to get three solid innings out of him and he exceeded it for us.”
Patrick Berthelette (Marymount) gave up seven runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings for Wellsville. Belmont, NY native, Zach Lyman (Fredonia) gave up three runs on four hits in 2.2 innings pitched, before Montero took over for the final inning, allowing two runs on one hit.
With 14 hits and four doubles on the night, Olean got contributions from nearly every player in its lineup. Hollins and Phillips paced the offense, each going 3-for-5 and scoring twice. Phillips’ two RBI pushed him into first place in the NYCBL with 37 on the season. Koloszvary had a solo home run while Cole Peterson (St. Bonaventure) added two hits.
Montero, who is now leading the league with a .394 batting average, went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a home run. Franzone went 2-for-5 and scored a run. Carson Shrode (Tennessee Martin), who homered in the last matchup with the Oilers, has improved his batting average in every game this season and now sits at a .247. He added two hits for Wellsville.
“There was a little bit of a revenge action going on, but we’re not hitting the panic button too quick,” said Bell. “We definitely wanted to come in and steal a win from them.”
Wellsville fell to 14-17 on the season, while Olean improved to 29-4.
Wellsville is back in action on Wednesday, as they host the Genesee Rapids (11-20) at 5 p.m.
The Oilers are off until Thursday when they take on the Hornell Dodgers (16-16) at Maple City Park at 7 p.m.
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