Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs beat Newark Pilots 4-3

The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs returned home after winning in Utica last night as the two teams squared off for a double header, the second game which was rained out. Tonight the DiamondDawgs welcomed the Newark Pilots to Veteran’s Memorial Park for its Perfect Game Collegiate League (PGCBL) contest and picked up a 4-3 win.

 

In the midst of a playoff race the DiamondDawgs sent Keegan Long (Saint Joseph’s) to the mound with a 4-0 record but Tyler Bray (ULM) got the win improving to 2-2 while the Pilots Eddie Emes (Penn State Greater Allegheny) got the loss and dropped to 0-2.

 

The DiamondDawgs could not take advantage of two walks in the bottom of the second inning to Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) and Craig Lepre (UAlbany) as they stranded both runners and came up empty. In the top of the third Josh Ludwig (Rochester) was first to pick up a hit in the ball game when he singled but the Dawgs scored a double play when Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) threw a bomb from left field for a double play – scored a 7-6-3 double play.

 

The DiamondDawgs put up their first hit in the bottom of the third when David Peretti (Union) singled and then Dalton Herrington (ULM) doubled scoring Peretti (Union).  The Dawgs loaded the bases when Landon Thibodeaux (LSU Eunice) picked up an infield hit and Jordan Friend (Alabama A&M) walked but Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) popped up to end the inning.

The Pilots came up in the top of the fifth when Steve Laurino (Marist) singled past the shortstop Sam Dexter (Southern Maine) and Sam Wiggins (Houston Baptist) popped up to left field while Josh Ludwig (Rochester) singled to right field and Jacob Russell (Kentucky) struck out but a pass ball sent a runner home and the ball game was tied 1-1.  The Pilots would strand two runners on first and third as the inning came to a close.

Newark struck again in the top of the sixth when Sam Fox (Pomona-Pitzer) and Max Rosing (Cortland State) singled and David Vandercook (Columbia) bunted moving the runners to second and third.  A bunt by Steve Laurino (Marist) back to the pitcher Tyler Bray (ULM) resulted in a play at the plate in which the runner was safe after a missed tag and the Pilots took a 2-1 lead.  The Pilots scored one more when Sam Wiggins (Houston Baptist) sacrificed and scored the third run giving them a 3-1 lead.

The DiamondDawgs wasted no time bouncing back in the next inning as Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) lead off with a homerun and  Craig Lepre (UAlbany)  singled and then Sam Dexter (Southern Maine) reached on an error after the pitcher bobbled a ground ball.  After a sacrifice bunt by Mike Fischer (Columbia) a run scored after Jordan Serena (Columbia) reached on an error after the shortstop was unable to come up with it. The DiamondDawgs finally went ahead after Willie Shaw (William & Mary) put down a bunt bringing the go-ahead run home and the Dawgs took the 4-3 lead.

The DiamondDawgs are back at Veterans Memorial Park Friday, July 26, 2013 for a 7:05pm contest against the Adirondack Trail Blazers.