Amsterdam, NY – The Albany Dutchmen (15-10) split a non-traditional doubleheader with the Amsterdam Mohawks (16-14) Thursday night at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam.
The Mohawks walked-off in the first game with a 5-4 win, which was a continuation of a game rained out on July 5th. But in the second game, the Dutchmen had a rally of their own, and scored three runs in the 8th inning to beat Amsterdam 4-3.
Andrew Bannon (Skidmore) got the win for the Dutchmen, while Mike Urbanski (Binghamton) was handed the loss for the Mohawks. Local product from Guilderland Dylan Collett (Keene State) picked up his second save of the season as well.
In the first game, the two Eastern division rivals started off in the 10th inning of their resumed game. Amsterdam scored the game-winning run in the 11th after a hitless 10th by both teams. Dylan Smith (Auburn) played the role of hero for the Mohawks, knocking in the game-winning run off of Thomas Belcher (Indiana). Smith scored his Auburn teammate Jordan Ebert, giving Amsterdam the 5-4 win.
At the time, the win pulled the Mohawks within a half game of the Dutchmen for the 2nd spot in the Eastern Division. However, Albany would make sure it didn’t flip-flop in the standings when all was said and done at Shuttleworth Park.
Though John Nogowski (Florida State) got things going first for the Mohawks with a solo homer in the first inning, Albany responded right away. Luke Nethaway (St. Rose) cracked an RBI double in the top of the 2nd to tie things up at one run apiece.
Amsterdam then built on its lead, with Nogowski adding another RBI on a single in the 3rd, then Josh Gardiner (Radford) scoring on an error in the 5th. But three runs was all that was in the cards for the Mohawks in this one.
Albany mounted a comeback in the 8th, with Nethaway leading off the inning getting hit by the first pitch he saw. Then, with one out, Anthony Marks (Coastal Carolina) and Brad Noland (North Alabama) singled, loading the bases. Zach Remillard (Coastal Carolina) brought home Nethaway with a sacrifice fly, cutting it to 3-2 in favor of Amsterdam.
With the pressure mounting, Matt Dacey (Richmond) stepped up to the plate. Coming into his at-bat in the 8th, he was already 0-3 with 3 K’s. But instead of striking out, Dacey laced a 2-RBI double into the outfield to bring home the game-winning run.
Collett then shut down the Mohawks in the 9th, and Albany walked away from Amsterdam with a 4-3 come-from-behind win. The Dutchmen improve to 15-10 with the win, and keeps them in 2nd place in the East.
Albany returns to Bellizzi Field on Friday against the Glens Falls Golden Eagles. Friday is a doubleheader, with the first pitch at 5:05PM. Friday is also Phillips Hardware Night, with over $500 in prize giveaways and a chance to win New York Yankee tickets! It is also Chamber of Commerce Night. There will be a mixer at 6:00PM for any member of the Chamber in the Capital District!
