Brandon Nylin (Herkimer CC) delivers a pitch
GLENS FALLS, NY—The Albany Dutchmen (16-19) split a double header with the Glens Falls Dragons (19-18) at East Field, taking game 1 4-3, while dropping game 2 4-1.
Nick Cioffi (Towson) was firing on all cylinders from the get go against the Dragons in game 1. Cioffi threw three and two thirds of perfect baseball, retiring the first 11 batters he faced.
Before Cioffi took the East Field rubber, the Dutchmen gave him a lead to work with. In the top of the 1st, an RBI single from Sean Aspinall (Azusa Pacific) to left brought home the game’s first run.
The Dragons stayed within striking distance in the first few frames, stranding 5 Dutchmen runners in scoring position.
After getting two quick outs in the bottom of the 5th, Cioffi relinquished a triple to Zach McIlroy (Anderson), who came around to score on a Dutchmen defensive miscue, tying the game 1-1.
Glens Falls scored two more times to take a 3-1 lead on a 2-run single by Danny Oliveri (Triton), Due to the error, the three runs Cioffi relinquished in the contest were all unearned.
After the Dragons’ runs, the Dutchmen offense roared to life in the top of the 6th. Two doubles and a single by Michael Bollmer (Louisville), Hunter Boose (Georgia Regents) and Patrick Hisle (Maryland), respectively, tied the game 3-3. After a Tom Moore (College of Saint Rose) sacrifice bunt, Jack Weiller (Virginia) sprayed a single through the drawn in infield to give the Dutchmen a 4-3 advantage.
Cioffi dealt with more trouble in the ensuing bottom of the frame. With runners at the corners and one out, the Dutchmen starter induced a strikeout-caught stealing to conclude the frame and keep Albany ahead.
Cioffi went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 7th for Albany’s second win against the Dragons this year.
In game 2, the Dragons asserted themselves in the bottom of the 1st, scoring four runs against Dutchmen starter, Brandon Nylin (Herkimer CC). Ryan Hooper (UC Davis) got the scoring started with a 2-run homerun to straightaway center, putting the Dragons on top.
The rally continued, loading the bases with one out. Nylin was able to induce a ground ball to Hunter Boose at short, but his toss to first after stepping on second sailed off the glove of Michael Bollmer, plating two more Dragon runs.
After the rocky first, Nylin settled down, going the rest of the way for the Dutchmen, relinquishing just more hits. Nylin used a devastating breaking ball to strike out eight Dragons and keep Albany within striking distance.
The Dutchmen got on the board in the top of the 3rd, when Michael Fitzsimmons (Ole Miss) roped a single to left, plating Grayson Lewis (Rice).
Albany’s next best scoring chance came in the 4th inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Lewis mashed a line drive into the glove of Dragons’ third basemen, Donovan Christman (Lynn) who tossed the ball to second to double off Weiller and conclude the threat.
After that, the Dutchmen mustered together just two hits.
Albany heads to Newark for a double header with the Pilots tomorrow, before returning to Bellizzi Field Friday with a matchup with the Victor Rail Riders. Country Music Star Chelsea Cavanaugh will perform an hour prior to the 7:05 first pitch, in conjunction with a major fundraiser in support of Maddie’s Mark, a local organization providing best days ever to children suffering from terminal illnesses. There will be a huge raffle with excellent prizes, including a mounted picture of the New York Yankees Core Four and two UAlbany men’s basketball season tickets packages. There will also be baseball bingo taking place throughout the game.
