By NATE DISCAVAGE
LITTLE FALLS, N.Y.- Three Utica Blue Sox pitchers combined to throw 156 pitches in Tuesday night’s game against the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs; only 83 of those managed to cross the strike zone. The Dawgs drew nine walks in a 6-2 victory over Utica at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League action.
In the final week of the regular season, both teams entered the game in a tight Eastern Division race; however, neither team managed to gain any ground in their respected races. Mohawk Valley (26-14) is tied for the second seed with the Albany Dutchmen (27-15). On the other end of the division, Utica (15) currently sits four games out of the playoff picture with six games to go.
Taylor Olmstead (Southern New Hampshire) opened the scoring with an RBI-single in the top of third inning. The lead was short-lived as Russ Olive (UMass-Lowell) rocketed his league-leading seventh home run of the season over the left field fence with two outs to put Mohawk Valley ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the frame.
After two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for the Diamond Dawgs in the bottom of the fourth inning, senior Alexis Monge-Rodriguez (Barry) knocked a bases-clearing triple over Olmstead’s head in left field. Monge-Rodriguez finished the night with four RBI.
“I have been working to change my stance a little bit and am seeing the ball better,” Monge-Rodriguez said.
Standing at only 5-foot-6, he has routinely shown off with his glove and signature side-arm throws to first.
“Sometimes, you just have to look pretty.”
Olmstead hit his fourth home run of the season to center field in the top of the fifth, but it was too-little-too-late for the Blue Sox.
Over his last three games, Olmstead has combined to go 6-for-12 with three home runs, 10 RBI and four runs scored.
Jack Fossand (Dartmouth) earned his third win of the season. The 6-foot-5 Minnesota native only allowed five base runners in six innings pitched. He struck out three batters.
Louie Varland (Concordia-St.Paul) fell to 2-2 on the season. He allowed five runs on five walks in four innings pitched.
Jonathan Sell (Herkimer C.C.) and Zach Vennaro (Mount Olive/Monroe C.C.) combined to pitch three innings of shutout ball out of the bullpen for Mohawk Valley. The duo struck out seven of the 11 batters that they faced. Vennaro threw all 11 of his pitches for strikes.
The Dawgs travel to Albany for a doubleheader tomorrow with the second seed in the Eastern Division on the line. The first game will be a continuation of a suspended game from earlier in the season tied in extra innings.
Mohawk Valley coach Blake Nation understands that his team’s performance in the doubleheader can determine whether they host a playoff game or have to go on the road.
“We just have to come out and play our style of baseball like we have been doing these last two games,” Nation said. “This was a very important win.”
Utica travels to Geneva for a game against the Red Wings (26-18). The Blue Sox trail the Saugerties Stallions (18-22) by four games for the final playoff spot.
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