The Mansfield Destroyers rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Hornell Dodgers 8-5 in the 2019 NYCBL opener for both teams.

The Dodgers got on the board in the 1st inning when Matthew Martinez (Oklahoma Wesleyan) and Brendan Lowery (Bucknell) drew walks to start the game. Martinez came around to score on a throwing error.

Tim Carroll tied the game up in the 2nd with a single but the Dodgers took advantage of four walks, a hit by pitch, and an error in the 3rd to grab a 4-1 lead. Andrew Littlefield (Hanover) and Jon Michael Allelo drew bases loaded walk and Christopher Herb (Kansas State) scored on an error.

Mansfield scored a pair of unearned runs in the 3rd to cut it to 4-3 but Colin Johnson (Alfred State) and hit doubles in the 4th to make it 5-3.

Matt Williams tied the game up in the bottom of the 4th when he collected a two-RBI single.

The Destroyers took their first lead in the 6th when Williams collected a RBI double. Pat ONeill and Tyler Melko followed with RBI singles to make it 8-5.

Both bullpens kept the game 8-5 the rest of the way.  The Dodgers collected a pair of hits in the 9th but could not plate another run.

Jack Henby (Alfred State) led Hornell with a 2 for 3 day. Littlefield collected a pair of RBI. Hornell only had five hits on the day but did draw nine walks.

ONeill was 4 for 5 with a RBI while Williams drove in three for the Destroyers. The Mansfield bullpen allowed just four hits and one earned run in six innings of work. Brendan Quigley earned the win while  David Higginbotham recorded the final three outs for the save.

The Dodgers head to Houghton on Friday to take on the Genesee Rapids at 7 p.m. The team opens up the home portion of the season on Saturday when they host Niagara at 7 p.m.