Albany put up three innings of three or more hits, scoring two runs in all three of those innings to propel themselves to the important road victory.
The Dutchmen would open up the scoring right away, as JJ Shimko (University of South Carolina Upstate) would begin the game with a single, and Cole Malloy (Butler University) would follow with a double to quickly put a pair of runners in scoring position with no one out. After Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican University) grounded out, Kyle Skeels (Coastal Carolina University) laced a double to plate both and give Albany a 2-0 lead. Albany would look to extend the lead to 3-0 off a two out Mychael Goudreau (Azusa Pacific University) single, but Skeels would be thrown out at the plate to end the half.
Saugerties would quickly respond however, as their own leadoff man in Alex Thrower (University at Buffalo) would lead off with a single. After he moved up on a Caleb Kerbs (University of Maine) walk and a Julius Saporito (Quinnipiac University) flyout, he would score when Kerbs would intentionally be caught in a pickle after being picked off to cut it to 2-1.
The hosts would score again in the bottom of the second, as Zachary DeThomasis (Hudson Valley Community College) would score off a RBI single from Tyler Noe (University of Massachusetts Lowell) to tie it at 2.
The Stallions would score for the third consecutive inning to open up the ballgame in the bottom of the third. Kerbs led off the inning with a single and moved to third when Saportio singled and he would score as Adam Chase (Franklin Pierce University) grounded into a double play to give them a 3-2 lead.
However after that, the Dutchmen bullpen would keep the Saugerties offense quiet, only allowing one hit in the final six innings. Jared Gold (Coastal Carolina University) would be impressive out of the bullpen, going five solid innings allowing only one run off three hits while striking out one, giving him enough to earn Player of the Game recognition. He would get the victory, taking the ball to begin the third inning after Gavin Wallace (Fairfield University) threw the first two. Dutchmen Head Coach Nick Davey imposed a 35 pitch pitch count on Wallace, looking to keep the Stag fresh for the upcoming postseason run the Dutchmen look to have.
After Albany would be held quiet for next couple of innings, the bats would break out again in the top of the sixth. Goudreau would hit an infield single with one out, and after moving to second on a fielder’s choice, would come around to score on a Jon Skidmore (Dallas Baptist University) RBI single. Shimko would follow him up with a RBI double, as Kody Skype (College of Saint Rose) would score from second and give Albany a 4-3 lead, which they would not look back from.
Albany would add on two more insurance runs in the eighth, as Skype registered his first Dutchmen hit with one out. Skidmore and Shimko would follow with singles of their own to load the bases, and after Malloy struck out Childers singled to bring in Skype and Skidmore to provide the final score of 6-3.
Skidmore’s obvious impact of the game on both sides of the ball would also give him Player of the Game acknowledgement, as he would finish 1-for-2 with two walks, a run, and his RBI single. He would also have the play of the game in the bottom of the fourth, robbing Roberto Malinowski (Angelina College) of a hit, as he dove to his left to make the stop, and made a great throw paired with an unbelievable stretch by Skype on the backend that put him into a split to get Malinowski by about a quarter of a step.
Shimko would lead the way from the top of the lineup hitting wise, going 3-for-4 and reaching base four times with a walk, a run and his RBI double. Skeels would go 2-for-5 with his 2-RBI double, and the pairing of 6-7 hitters of Goudreau and Jack Gethings (Fairfield University) would combine to go 5-for-10 with a run. Skype went 1-for-5 with his pair of runs on the evening, but paired with a top-notch defensive showing at first would provide for a great performance from the newest Dutchmen. All nine batters in the Dutchmen order reached base at least once on the evening.
Saugerties remains at home tomorrow, hosting the Glens Falls Dragons at 6:30.
Albany returns home for a important doubleheader with the Oneonta Outlaws beginning at 5:05 at Bellizzi Field, in which will have an immense impact on the playoff positioning for both teams as we go down the final stretch of the 2016 PGCBL season. The Dutchmen will have Spotlight Newspaper Player of the Week Awards Night before the game, when they honor the eight Dutchmen Player of the Weeks. There will also be a Dutchmen Photo Giveaway of Jack Grabek (Bucknell University) and Joe Pokrentowski (College of Saint Rose) courtesy of Stannard Photography for the first 200 fans.
