By KATIE FAULKNER
WELLSVILLE, N.Y. — Chance Murphy (SC Salkehatchie) and a 12-hit effort helped the Hornell Dodgers get back on track with an 8-5 win over the Wellsville Nitros in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Wednesday.
Murphy allowed two runs on six hits in six innings of work. The Bluftton, South Carolina native retired six before Victor Paiva (Dean College) and Jake Miller (Lackawanna) took over for the final three innings. Paiva allowed three runs on three hits and struck out two. Miller was credited with the save.
“First of all, I have to give the credit to my teammates because they showed up, hit the ball well and played solid defense behind me,” said Murphy. “Personally, I was able to minimize the big innings where they got a few hits here and there and had the bases loaded.”
The 6-foot-7 Murphy also acknowledged his catcher, Anthony Santoro (Monroe CC).
“[Santoro] called a good game behind the plate and we were on the same page the whole time,” said Murphy.
“A couple things didn’t go [Murphy’s] way, but he was able to overcome it and pitch his way out of a few jams,” said Hornell assistant coach, Tyler Walter.
The Dodgers put up the first four runs of the game before Wellsville was able to tack two on in the sixth. Hornell’s Adam Fitzgibbon (Saginaw Valley) got things going in the third with an RBI single to plate Santoro. Connor Brandon (Concordia) drove in Jack Trotman (St. John Fisher) and Fitzgibbon with a base hit.
A Harry Montero Jr. (Bloomfield) single, followed by two walks drawn by Brian Wasilewski (U of Buffalo) and Pat Scholla (John Carroll) loaded the bases for Wellsville in the sixth. Mike McNicholl (Eastern New Mexico) delivered a two-run single to make it a 4-2 game.
Hornell took over from there.
A sacrifice fly from Tyler Burns (Trevecca Nazarene U) plated Santoro before Brandon connected on a three-run home run to extend the Hornell lead to 8-2. Despite a three-run ninth inning with RBI from Max Franzone (Dominican), Montero and Wasilewski, the Wellsville rally fell short.
Brandon paced the offense for the Dodgers, going 3-for-5 with five RBI. Trotman went 4-for-5 while Tanner Klein (Mansfield) added a hit and an RBI.
Wellsville’s Nic Sampogna (Elmira) gave up four runs on nine hits in eight innings pitched. He struck out three before Zach Lyman (SUNY Fredonia) took over for the final inning, allowing four runs on three hits.
Montero paced the offense for the Nitros, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. McNicholl went 1-for-2 with two RBI and scored once while Nic Varda (Ashland) and Scholla added a hit apiece.
Wellsville dropped its fifth straight and fell to 20-22 on the season while Hornell improved to 21-22.
With the win, Hornell cut its magic number to one for clinching a spot in the playoffs. Wellsville’s number is two.
The Nitros host the Rochester Ridgemen (10-32) on Thursday at 5 p.m.
Hornell is off until Friday when they host Wellsville at Maple City Park at 7 p.m.
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