Hornell Nips Webster

For the third time in the last eight games Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees left the tying run stranded at third as the Hornell Dodgers took the opening game of a doubleheader, 4-3 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field.

Webster rallied from a 4-1 deficit with a pair of runs in the eighth. Steve Muoio’s (Georgia C&S) two-out single to right field plated Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) with the third run for the home nine. Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) led the frame and was hit by a pitch. Bailey dropped a bunt single down the third baseline, and both advanced when the ensuing throw flew over first base. Eventually, Clark scored on a wild pitch.

Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) slashed a one-out triple in the ninth. Hornell reliever, Chase Boroff (Carson Newman), extinguished the threat with a back-to-back strike outs.

The Yankees jumped to a one-run lead in the second. With two outs Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) got caught in a run-down at first base. The designated hitter alertly continued the play so that Chenoweth could score from second.

But luck did not shine on the pinstripes Saturday. Hornell pasted runs on the board during the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Jeff Lockwood (Tennessee) tied the score on an opposite-field two strike single by Trey Bennett (Mercyhurst). Bennett fought off an inside pitch for the RBI.

Hornell took the lead one inning later. Adalberto Vargas (Alfred St.) doubled and scored on a single by Thomas Zurline (St. Joseph’s).

Lockwood and Bennett combined in the eighth for a deuce. Lockwood led with a triple. Bennett walked and stole second. Webster appeared to slow the rally when reliever, Scott Brothers (Ball State), put a glove on a come-backer. Unfortunately, the ball caromed into the area vacated by shortstop, Bailey.  Lockwood and Bennett crossed the dish, and Craig Shaefer (Webster) stood at second with a double on a ball that never left the infield.

Bennett made an outstanding catch in left center which turns out to be a game-saver.  Matt Jacobs (U Mass-Lowell) led the seventh with a drive into the gap. Bennett sprinted, leapt and took away a sure triple – possibly an inside-the-park home run.

Clark and Bailey led the game with singles. Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Webster could not take advantage from there.

With the loss, Webster falls to 18-18.

In the night cap, Webster took a 4-1 lead in the first before storms settled into Webster.

Clark and Goodmiller reached base on walks. Nate Koontz (Ball State) plated Clark with a single. Muoio drove home Goodmiller. Jacobs brought home Koontz, and Chenoweth delivered Muoio with a single.

Play was suspended. A new date and time are pending.

Webster travels to Brockport Sunday for a 4pm tilt.

Pickin’ Splinters