HORNELL – After Wednesday's split with the Genesee Rapids, Dodgers manager Justin Oney said giving the ball to his all-star ace Maddux Minton gives him a big chance to come out on top in any game.

Thursday was his turn to pitch again, but this time, up against the NYCBL-leading Niagara Power back at Maple City Park.

The Power would use it to their highest advantage possible, capitalizing on a mixed bag of hits and walks to jolt a five-run first inning that set the tone for the rest of the night, despite a late Dodgers rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Niagara rolled past Hornell for their fifth win in six games with a 14-7 victory under the lights.

Niagara (23-9-1) began the night red hot, accounting for five first inning runs on five hits, going through their lineup a full time. A Frank Lucska fielder's choice, and an Isaiah Corry single to the left side got it all started with a 2-0 lead on the Dodgers. 

Soon the lead grew to four off another hit, this one by Dylan McNary, as he poked a two-out, two-run single past Kevin Higgins at third base, and into left field. Kolby Blanchard added the last RBI on error.

Niagara went on to score two more runs in the next two innings to extend their lead to seven, as Jack Rubenstein added a sacrifice fly to left field in the top of the second, and a 4-3 putout by Eric Wentz plated Adam Purdy from third in the next tenure of offense, ultimately ending Minton's day on the mound, finishing with five walks.

Hornell (12-15-2) however, did manage to find their way on the board in the bottom of the third, as Nick Wimmers posted the team's first run after Higgins reached on error. But it wasn't long after that the Power continued where they left off in the fourth, scoring seven straight runs to crack the double digit mark.

The offense in the middle innings was paced by a lead-off, solo home run by Lucska to deep right center field, landing in the road behind the fence, and crossing the street to give the Power an 8-1 lead in the top of the fourth.

After scoring two in the top of the sixth, the Power forced the 10-run rule into effect going into the last three innings of play, but the Dodgers continued play with their biggest stint of offense of the night – a five-run bottom of the seventh paced by a grand slam from the bat of Sean Flannery, his first of the season to cut the Niagara lead to eight.

Hornell added one more run in the bottom of the eighth with Jon-Michael Allelo reaching base with a single on error, scoring Josh Laurie from second base. But in the ninth, Niagara shut the door on the Dodgers, as reliever Noah McDaniel struck out the side to end the long night of baseball, deep into the night.

In all, the Dodgers collected seven runs on seven hits, with Wimmers and Higgins leading the way with a pair each. Along with Flannery's slam, Laurie and Andrew Littlefield each added a hit. Jack Henby came on in relief to hold Niagara for the first time in the game, posting two shutout innings with two strikeouts and a walk.

Hornell jumps right back into action Friday night at Maple City Park, as they welcome in the Olean Oilers for a big Western Division doubleheader. Jon Ward and Gaetan Sinisgalli will get the calls on the mound for the Dodgers.

First pitch for game one is slated for 5 p.m.

Niagara       511 122 200 – 14 12 3
Hornell        001 000 510 –    7  8 4

NIA – Joshua Bookbinder (WP) (4K), Peyton Birch (7) (3K, 3BB), Noah McDaniel (9) (3K), and Jack Rubenstein.
HOR – Maddux Minton  (LP) (5BB), JP Nolan (3) (K, 2BB), Jon-Michael Allelo (5) (K, 5BB), Jack Henby (7) (2K, BB), and Nick Wimmers.