By: Rebekah Rivette
Saugerties, NY – In a game that took nearly four hours and featured a combined 10 pitchers, the Amsterdam Mohawks defeated the Saugerties Stallions 7-6, Monday night in Saugerties.
Amsterdam struck first after an error allowing Richie Barrella (Manhattan) to reach first base, and scoring Elvis Peralta Jr. (Marshall). The Mohawks tacked on two more runs in the top of the second inning off a double by Peralta, scoring Joe Genord (South Florida) and Cole Barr (Indiana) giving them a 3-0 lead.
Saugerties struggled to get the bats going early, stranding seven runners in the first three innings. They finally broke through in their half of the fourth.
Cam Comer (University of Virginia) singled, getting the first RBI of the night, scoring Carlos Pino (Nyack). Jordan Kozicky (University of Minnesota) doubled, scoring James Gargano (Butler). The bats were finally alive and they kept the hits coming. Tyler Kelder (St. Bonaventure) singled, allowing Comer to score. With Dillon Lifrieri (Arkansas) up to bat, Kozicky scored on a wild pitch. They tacked on one more run on a double from Andrew Taft (Le Moyne) scoring Kelder to make it 5-3.
Amsterdam was quick to answer, as Justin Foscue (Mississippi State) hit a solo home run, cutting the Saugerties lead to just one run. They tied it in the seventh after a single by Richie Nizza (Florida Atlantic) scored Foscue.
In a nail-biting game, Lifrieri would come up clutch again with a double to drive in Kelder in the eighth.
In the top of the ninth with bases loaded, Michael Ludowig (Wake Forest) doubled, allowing Barr and Shane Muntz (Wake Forest) to score, giving Amsterdam a lead of 7-6. Saugerties would go down quietly in their half of the ninth.
Blake Espinal (Seaton Hall) earned the win for Amsterdam, while Trey Hinkle (Bloomsburg) took the loss for Saugerties. Amsterdam plays next against the Oneonta Outlaws at home, while the Stallions play next on Thursday in Albany against the Dutchmen.
