By KATIE FAULKNER
WELLSVILLE— Mike McNicholl (Eastern New Mexico) delivered the game-winner in the 10th inning, and the Wellsville Nitros walked off with a 5-4 victory over the Olean Oilers in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Monday.
McNicholl plated Jacob Means (Cowely County CC) with a bases-loaded single as Wellsville, the only team to beat the Oilers more than once this season, knocked off the Western Division leaders for the third time this season.
“I just had to breathe and not make it into anything too big,” said McNicholl. “I’ve just been trying to hit to the opposite side of the field and up the middle.”
Carlos Tejeda (Bloomfield) came out of the bullpen and got the win for the Nitros, allowing one run on four hits in six innings pitched.
“Carlos has been dealing with his bicep tendinitis, but he’s been in the weight room and he does everything we ask of him,” said Wellsville pitching coach Tucker Hughes. “We’re grinding it out every morning and working on the little things.”
The 6-foot-6 Tejeda credited Olean’s high-powered offense, but said he knew what he had to do in order to be successful.
“Olean is the best team in the league right now and pitching against them is not easy work,” said Tejeda. “I just had to hit my spots and throw the ball down at the knee to force ground balls.”
The Oilers scored the first five runs of the game, shutting out the Nitros until the bottom of the fifth. David Hollins (St. Petersburg) got things started in the first with an RBI double to plate Cole Peterson (St. Bonaventure). David Yanni (U of Pittsburgh) connected on a leadoff solo home run in the second to make the score 2-0.
Olean extended its lead in the fourth when Matt Schneider (Mercyhurst) plated Mark Koloszvary (U of Florida) with an RBI single before Yanni scored on a passed ball. A Koloszvary sacrifice fly extended the lead to 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Harry Montero Jr. (Bloomfield) pulled Wellsville within one in the fifth. McNicholl and Tyler Culpepper (Roane State CC) got things started for the Nitros with back-to-back singles, and Max Franzone (Dominican) drew a walk and to the bases. Montero connected on his league-leading ninth home run of the season. With the grand slam Montero broke the NYCBL single-season RBI record. He now has 56 for the summer.
McNicholl tied the score in the eighth when he singled with two outs to drive in Carson Shrode (Tennessee Martin).
McNicholl went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Means went 3-for-5 and scored once for the Nitros. Montero broke the previous record of 53 RBI held by Jon Kemmer (Olean ’12). Kemmer currently plays for the Fresno Grizzlies – the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
Yanni paced the offense for Olean, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Alex Griffith (U of Pittsburgh) went 2-for-5 while Hollins added two hits and an RBI.
Josh Limes (Cowley County CC) started for Wellsville and allowed four runs on seven hits over four innings.
Nolan Hunt (Canisius) allowed five hits and four runs in five innings pitched for Olean. Eddie Demurias (U of Florida) gave up one run on four hits in three innings of work. Adam Rigney (Nichols) and Andrew White (U of Buffalo) also split time on the mound.
The Nitros improved to 20-17 on the season while Olean fell to 33-5.
Wellsville is off until Friday when they head to Olean to take on the Oilers at Bradner Stadium at 7 p.m.
Olean hosts the Rochester Ridgemen (8-29) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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