The Hornell Dodgers (21-7) blasted 5 home runs and stole 10 bases in route to defeating the Rome Generals (12-12) by a final of 15-5. With the victory tonight it marks the franchises 600th win in 24 years.
Michael Young (UMASS Lowell) had a torrid night as he had 2 home runs as well as hitting a triple and a single. He went 4-4 with 6 RBI’s and a walk.
The Dodgers would race out to an early lead scoring 7 runs in the first two innings. Young and Connor Bailey (Willamette) would each hit a solo home run in the first to take the 2-0 lead.
Mike Wick (Webster) came to the plate in the 2nd inning and would hit a single to right field to score Chris Cerniglia (Nichols). Young then stepped up to the plate and laced a triple to right field that scored both Max Werner (Seattle University) and Wick. Jared Kapturasky (Mercyhurst) would then join the home run parade as he launched a 2-run shot to push the Hornell lead to 7-0.
Rome would score 1 in the top of the 4th before the Blue and White would respond by scoring two of their own. After Ethan Harrison (Trevecca Nazarene) and Young performed a double steal Bailey would ground out to the second basemen which resulted in Harrison scoring. Young would eventually score on a wild pitch making it a 9-1 ball game.
After the Generals would hit a 3-run inside the park home run in the 7th the Dodgers would once again respond by scoring in the bottom half of the inning. Bailey would score from third after the Generals threw down to second base to get Brett on an attempted steal.
Hornell would respond after the Generals scored 1 run in the 8th by plating 5 runs of their own. Sam Mang (Trevecca Nazarene) would lead off the inning with a walk followed by stealing second and then reaching third on a wild pitch. Wick then would single to right field to score Mang. The Blue and White then proceed to hit 2 more homeruns as Young hit a 2 run homer followed by Brett’s solo home run to bring the lead to 15-5.
Bailey, Brett and Wick all had 2 hits on the night as well as Wick, Bailey and Kapturasky chipping in with 2 RBI’s apiece.
Reid VanScoter (Binghamton) earned the win tonight as he went 6 innings striking out 10 while only scattering 4 hits and 1 earned run. Reno Cheshire (Alfred State), Andrew McCoy (Benedict) and Wick would all pitch one inning in relief allowing only 5 hits and four earned runs.
The Dodgers will head to Olean tomorrow to take on the Oilers in a scheduled double header with the first game starting at 5 p.m.
