The Dutchmen celebrate their walkoff victory over Saugerties.
A walk off double from Patrick Hisle (Maryland) gave the Albany Dutchmen a victory in the opening game of a doubleheader against the Saugerties Stallions Tuesday night at Bob Bellizzi Field. The Stallions claimed the nightcap by a 6-0 score.
The opening game of the doubleheader was a pitcher’s duel, as starters Brandon Nylin (Herkimer CC) and Nick Williams (Union) each kept opposing hitters off-balance. Williams allowed runners on third base in four of the first five innings, but did not allow the Dutchmen to score. Nylin also worked out of a runner-on-third jam of his own in the fourth inning.
The Dutchmen struck first in the game, plating a go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Zach Remillard (Coastal Carolina) reached on an error by the Saugerties third baseman. Michael Fitzsimmons (Ole Miss) drilled a double to the right center field gap to score Remillard for the first run of the game. Fitzsimmons became the fifth runner left in scoring position after a flyout and a pop out.
In the seventh inning, Saugerties was able to even the contest. Pat Dorrian (Herkimer CC) singled off his General teammate with one out, and was followed by Chris Reynolds (Manhattan) reaching on a single to put runners on first and second. The score evened at one when Dylan Jenkins (Susquehanna) clubbed an RBI single. Nylin’s day came to an end, and Zak Spivy (Polk State College) came on in relief. Spivy induced a ground ball to Grayson Lewis (Rice), who stepped on third and fired to first for an inning-ending double play.
The first game’s heroics occurred in the bottom of the seventh inning, and started when Adam Gauthier (Dartmouth) was hit by an inside pitch. With one out, Hisle drilled the winning double into the gap between left and center field. Gauthier scored before a throw could come to the plate to provide the 2-1 final. The double was the first extra base hit of the season for Hisle.
For his two thirds of an inning, Spivy earned his third win of the season. Williams was charged with the loss.
Saugerties opened the scoring in the top of the second inning of the nightcap, helped in part by three Dutchmen errors. Reynolds started the inning by reaching on an error, and moved over to third base on a single by Micah Riddick (Ulster CC). Reynolds then scored on an attempted sacrifice bunt that was thrown away at home. A fly ball off the bat of John Novenche (St. Bonaventure) fell due to the third Albany miscue, and Riddick came in to score. Two more runs would score to make the score 4-0 on a double by Nick Russo (New Haven). None of the inning’s four runs were charged to starter Jake Welch (Notre Dame College).
The Dutchmen threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning, loading the bases with one out. A Sean Aspinall (Azusa Pacific) single was followed by walks to Remillard and Fitzsimmons, but the bases were left loaded after a strikeout and a groundout.
Two more runs scored in the top of the seventh inning to put the game away for the Stallions. Billy Riedel (SUNY Oneonta) clubbed a two-run double to score Dylan Sprague (Farleigh Dickinson) and Riddick.
Welch did not allow an earned run over 5.2 innings of work on the mound, but took the loss. Anthony Rocco (Pace) used his breaking pitches to fool Albany hitters, and picked up the victory in a complete game shutout.
Albany begins a two-game series with the Glens Falls Dragons on Wednesday, beginning at East Field in Glens Falls. The series moves to Bellizzi on Thursday, which is Werner Ladders Night and Bark in the Park Night. Four Werner Ladders will be given out throughout the night, and all canines will be admitted free to the park. It is also the return of the All You Can Eat for $10 promotion.
