By JAMES HADNOT
SYRACUSE, N.Y.— One pitch, then it happened.
“I had already made up my mind I was swinging on the first pitch,” Syracuse Salt Cats outfielder, Brandon Cornelius (Rutgers-Camden). “I was praying before my at bat please give me a fastball to hit he did and I hit it.”
He did hit it. Cornelius hit the ball 400-plus, over the wall, to score four runs and walk-off on a grand slam, 8-5 over the Rome Generals Wednesday night in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.
“I knew it was out, but then I didn’t because this field was so big, but I saw the face of first base coach Tim Hunter and he yelled ‘LET’S GO’,” said Cornelius. “I’m just so thankful.”
The situation was set up after the Salt Cats hopped out to an early three-run lead on the Generals through three innings. Cornelius smacked a ball right up the middle for a one-run single to push the score to, 3-0.
Then, in the middle innings, Rome decided to put up some runs of their own. After the Salt Cats walked in the first run, Marc DiLeo (Mercyhurst College) grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second run. Following the fielder’s choice, a steal by DiLeo from first base to second base saw Connor Waslinak (Stevenson University) shoot home on the throw too second. Both were safe and the score was tied, 3-3.
The Salt Cats fell behind in the next inning as the Generals took advantage of a wild pitch and RBI ground out to push the score to 5-3 through five innings.
In the final four innings, Syracuse’s bullpen held Rome to just one hit as they tried to keep the lead stationary.
“With this team, it’s all about the perseverance,” said Syracuse Salt Cat reliever, Bill Larranga. “I wasn’t nervous, I knew our hitters would come around like they usually do.”
In the bottom of the ninth was when it all came together. Jack McCarty (Molloy College) lead off the inning with a 10 pitch at bat which led to a single. Anthony Galanoudis (Molloy College) then reached on a single. After a walk put Shannon Baker (Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne), the table was set for Cornelius to feast.
“Coach kept stressing to us how much we needed this game, they are right behind us and to do it like this felt amazing,” said Cornelius.
With the win, the Salt Cats move to three and a half games up on the Generals with four games left in the season. Syracuse travels to Newark for an exhibition matchup against the Pilots on Thursday. Rome’s season is on the line against the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs Thursday night at Onondaga Community College.
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