By CODY LOVE
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After an offensive explosion in game one of the series, game two was a pitcher’s duel.
Alexander Rojas (Eastern New Mexico) hit an RBI single in the top of the tenth as the Oneonta Outlaws topped the Syracuse Salt Cats 2-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Onondaga Community College on Monday night.
Both starters worked quickly and efficiently, and they’re bullpens kept it going as both teams were held to one run through regulation.
Jack Fleming (North Georgia College and State University) was stellar despite falling behind early.
“I actually thrive off of (the pressure),” Fleming said. “It’s a lot easier to throw when there’s more pressure on you.”
He lasted eight innings, allowing just two hits, an unearned run, and two walks while striking out eight.
“It was a gutty performance,” Outlaws manager Joe Hughes said. “He had his best performance of the year tonight.”
His offense finally picked him up in the seventh.
Trailing 1-0, Hayden Gerlach (Grand Canyon) was hit by a pitch, then stole second.
He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Maxey (Tennessee Tech), leading to a pitching change which ended the day for Syracuse starter James McCarty (SUNY Oneonta).
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Kyle Perez (SUNY Brockport) came on to pitch and CJ Krowiak (Binghamton) walked to the plate. Krowiak hit an RBI single to tie the game.
Krowiak, Oneonta’s number nine hitter, had two hits on the day.
“It was a good night for him,” Hughes said. “Hopefully he can build off of that.”
McCarty went six and a third innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, striking out six.
He also allowed no walks for the first time this season.
Rojas’ game-winning single came after the Outlaws put together a rally with two outs.
“I was just trying to stay calm, make sure that I don’t get myself out,” Rojas said. “Make sure that he couldn’t beat me, I could only beat myself.”
Rojas had two hits on the night, also doubling in the fifth.
Brian Gerner (Wesleyan), in his second inning of relief, got two quick outs but then hit Zack Blonder (Maryville) with a pitch.
Jordan “McClain” Bradley (Wofford) then singled, moving Blonder into scoring position at second and bringing Rojas to the plate.
Syracuse’s only run came in the fourth.
Lucas Tevlin (Binghamton) was hit by a pitch and then advanced all the way to third when Fleming overthrew a pickoff attempt.
Brian Bilello (Concordia) drove him home on an RBI groundout to second.
Bilello has now recorded at least one RBI in four straight games.
Tevlin was 0-for-2 in his at-bats, meaning that his hit streak has come to an end at a team-high fourteen games.
Reliever Ryan Murray (Stonehill) picked up the win, while the loss was charged to Gerner.
Joey Orlando (Binghamton) recorded the save.
After a 30-run weekend, the Salt Cats managed just three hits on Monday.
Manager Mike Martinez was not happy with his team’s performance and did not speak to them after the game.
“I didn’t have anything to say,” Martinez explained.
Through two games in this four game set, both the Outlaws (12-13) and the Salt Cats (18-11) have taken one game on the road.
The series continues in Oneonta on Tuesday at 7:00.
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