Dutchmen put on an offensive clinic in tonight's 14-2 win over Onondaga
ONONDAGA, N.Y. - In a game where Albany has a masterful performance both on offense and on defense, they beat the Flames 14-2 and inch closer to clinching the coveted two seed in the East Division.
Matt Pierce (Siena) took the mound for the Dutchmen today, coming in with an impressive 1.75 ERA and a franchise record seven wins. It was Jason Hellwig (SUNY Brockport) who took the mound for Onondaga, coming into the game with one loss and a staggering 14.73 ERA.
The Dutchmen got on the board first in the second inning, when Peyton Sockwell (North Alabama) hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican).
Pierce ran into some trouble in the fourth and fifth innings, surrendering one run in each. In the fourth, Matt Carey (Ithaca) grounded into a 5-3 putout, which allowed Camillo Spinoso (LeMoyne) to score. In the fifth, it was a Sam Little (Ithaca) RBI single that allowed Stephen Bennett (Canisius) to score, despite Little being thrown out at the plate later in that play.
It wasn’t until the sixth inning where the Dutchmen started to pour on the runs, eventually scoring 13 runs in the final four frames.
In the sixth, Justin Childers started it off by hitting a triple that scored Trace Tyre (Ole Miss). Childers was able to cross the plate off a play where Jon Skidmore (Dallas Baptist) was able to reach base off an error by the catcher. Chris Villa (Seton Hall) added two more runs on an error where he reached base that allowed Jon Skidmore and Zach Durfee (Siena) to score.
In the seventh, Childers was able to continue his great day with a monster grand slam off Flames pitcher Tyler Rourke (Alabama A&M).
The eighth inning saw Albany tack on two more runs to continue their offensive success in the late innings. Griffen Herrera (Azusa Pacific) reached base on a walk that allowed Justin Decker (Dominican) to score. Jon Skidmore collected an RBI the next at bat, as a sac fly to right field allowed Chase Allen (Limestone) to score to make the score 11-2.
In the ninth and final inning, Albany was able to add on three more runs. A pair of RBI singles by Justin Decker and Brandt Holland (North Alabama) allowed two runs to cross the plate, as Jon Skidmore tacked on another run to make the score 14-2.
The Dutchmen bullpen gave three solid innings behind yet another great start by Matt Pierce. Trace Norkus came in in the seventh and threw two shutout innings, surrendering one hit alongside two strikeouts. Mac Welsh came in in the ninth and closed out the game facing just three batters.
With the win, Albany inches closer to the two seed in the East Division, as they advance to a 31-16 record. They are able to clinch the two seed if they take at least one of the two games tomorrow against Mohawk Valley. Onondaga retains the four seed in the West Division despite the loss.
Albany is back in action tomorrow against Mohawk Valley, with a game being continued from 7/26 that was suspended due to darkness. The first pitch to that game will be at 3:30PM, Albany leading 7-1 in the top of the 6th with two outs and a 2-1 count. The regularly scheduled game will be played as scheduled, with the first pitch taking place at 5:05PM.
