By KATIE FAULKNER
WELLSVILLE, N.Y. — Jimmy Skiff (Purdue-Calumet) tossed eight shutout innings, and the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs defeated the Wellsville Nitros, 2-0 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Saturday.
Skiff allowed four hits, fanned 11, walked three and shut out the Nitros, a team averaging 10 or more runs over its last 10 games. He retired the last seven batters he faced.
“Honestly, I just wanted to come in and attack every hitter,” said Skiff. “All of my pitches were working for me, which obviously doesn’t happen everyday, so it was a luxury to have.”
The Dyer, Indiana native credited his defense for backing him up in such a close game.
“(Conner) Lafferty made a couple good plays at first base and our outfielders are running down balls and making good catches out there,” said Skiff.
Webb Little (Ithaca) broke the scoreless tie with an RBI ground out scoring Nicholas Roy (Nichols) in the top of the sixth. Roy reached on a one-out double and advanced to third on an error before Little delivered the eventual game-winner.
Lafferty (Desales U) added an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI double plating Asher MacDonald (Bates College).
Both Carson Shrode (Tennessee Martin) and Nic Varda (Ashland) recorded doubles for Wellsville. Jacob Means (Cowley County CC) and Harry Montero Jr. (Bloomfield) added a hit apiece, but the Nitros stranded seven runners on base.
The Jr. Chiefs Kevin Soriano (Saint Peters) tossed a scoreless ninth, striking out one for his first save of the season.
Lafferty paced the offense for the Jr. Chiefs with two hits and an RBI.
Sam McCumiskey (Brockport) gave up two runs on five hits in 8.2 innings pitched for Wellsville. He struck out five before Josh Limes (Cowley County CC) finished out the remainder of the inning.
Syracuse improved to 22-17 on the season while Wellsville fell to 20-19.
The Jr. Chiefs magic number for clinching the playoffs is one. A Syracuse win or loss by the Rome Generals, and the J-Chiefs clinch the post-season for the second straight year.
The Jr. Chiefs face the Syracuse Salt Cats (20-18) at OCC on Sunday at 7 p.m.
The Nitros take on the Genesee Rapids (13-25) at Kerr-Pegula field on Sunday at 2 p.m. If Wellsville wins, the Nitros secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2013.
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