DiamondDawgs beat Pilots in matchup of division leaders

By JON RATHBUN
Times Sports Editor 

Posted Jun. 22, 2014 @ 3:57 am
Updated Jun 22, 2014 at 7:20 PM 

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. — With Saturday’s 6-5 win over Newark in a meeting of Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League division-leaders, the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs now own the best record in the league.

The DiamondDawgs scored four runs in the first inning and two in the second to support right-hander Ed Lewicki who pitched into the seventh to earn his first win of the season.

Mohawk Valley took the lead after Newark scored once in the top of the first inning. Jake Glauser walked and stole a base with one out then scored to tie the game at 1 on Zach Collett’s single. Spencer Thomas hit Jayson Sullivan with a pitch before Gus Craig cracked a two-run triple and scored on a Justin Thomas single.

Colin Hawk and Collett drove in runs with singles in the second inning.

The DiamondDawgs held a 6-3 lead from the second inning until the seventh. Pinch-hitter Dorian Hairston singled with two outs and Luis Silverio followed with a two-run home run to pull the Pilots within one run.

Evan Kissinger and Matt Pidich combined on 2 1/3 scoreless inning of relief to close out Mohawk Valley’s sixth consecutive victory. Pidich, who earned his second save, got the final out of the eighth inning with two runners on base then worked the ninth and stranded two more Newark runners.

The DiamondDawgs left the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning. They stranded seven runners in all and hit into three double plays.

In the third inning, Newark had runners at first and second with nobody out. Lewicki struck out the next two batters before Austin Clock singled to left field with two outs. The Pilots sent Tanner Giesel home from second base and Sullivan threw him out to end the inning.

Collett went 3-for-4 for the DiamondDawgs and Zane Smith had two hits.

Silverio had two hits, two runs batted in and two runs scored for Newark.

Mohawk Valley committed five errors in the win. Only two of the five runs charged to Lewicki were earned.

The DiamondDawgs travel to Albany Sunday to take on the Dutchmen, the team they passed to take over first place in the East Division. Albany has lost five games in a row.