BUFFALO, NY – The Medaille baseball team dropped a pair of conference games to Hilbert College on Sunday. The Mavericks would drop the opening game 8-1 but would conclude the day with an action packed thriller in game two.
Getting the start on the hill for the Mavs in game one was
Derek Holtz (Akron, NY, Akron), tossing a great game until his final inning of work where
Tyler Hassell (Angola, NY, Lakeshore) would relieve him.
The Hawks would scratch three runs across through the first five innings with the Mavs struggling to put together some offense.
With the Mavs trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth,
Jordeyn Lewis (Dallas, GA, Allatoona) would open up the frame with a bunt-single. Lewis would immediately steal second and third, setting himself 90 feet away from scoring the Mavs first run of the game.
Following a strikeout,
Shawn Filas (Hamburg, NY, Hamburg) would step in with one out in the inning looking to cash in Lewis from third. Filas would rope a line drive to left, scoring Lewis
Filas would join the 100-hit club in game one with an RBI-single
on a base-knock. The hit would be the 100
th of his career, joining 17 others in Medaille history to eclipse the century mark in total hits.
The Hawks would erupt for five runs in the seventh, knocking Holtz out of the game and finishing it off in the bottom half to collect their first win of the afternoon.
Hassell would get the ball for game two, but he would be knocked out in the early going, allowing four runs through the first three innings.
Zach Archibald (North Tonawanda, NY, North Tonawanda) would take over, relieving Hassell.
Anthony DeJoseph (West Seneca, NY, West Seneca West) would get the Mavs going in the bottom of the third with a single.
Andrew Schaffstall (Orchard Park, NY, Orchard Park) would follow suit with a base hit of his own, reaching safely on a bunt-single. The infield hit would be followed by a base on balls by Lewis, loading the bases for
Patrick Whelan (West Seneca, NY, Bishop Timon).
Whelan took a big hack at the first pitch he saw – a fastball right down the middle but swung right through it. Later in the at-bat, he would not miss again. Whelan hammered a two-strike pitch to deep right field, tying the game with one swing of the bat with a grand slam. It would be the fourth homerun of the year for the freshman, but the rally didn't stop there.
Ean Pokorski (Amherst, NY, Sweet Home)i would reach on an error with one out. With Pokorski on first,
Patrick Gavigan (Orchard Park, NY, Orchard Park) hit a line drive down the left field line and would turn a single into a hustle double, advancing Pokorski to third. Pokorski would then score the Mavs fifth run of the inning on a passed ball, taking the lead over the Hawks 5-4.
The Hawks would put together a rally in the fifth, scoring two runs to take back their lead 6-5. Archibald would hold Hilbert in check for the remainder of the game, not allowing another run.
Both sides would head to the ninth with the Hawks still leading 6-5. Lewis would lead off the final frame with a deep fly out. Whelan singled to left and would advance all the way to third when Pokorski reached on an error, placing the tying and winning runs in scoring position. The Mavs would be down to their last out with Gavigan at the dish. Gavigan would smack a line drive to the right side, but unfortunately, right into the glove of the Hilbert second baseman, ending the day with a 6-5 loss.
Archibald would toss 6.2 innings in relief only allowing two runs on six hits.
Whelan led the Mavs in game two, collecting three hits in five at-bats including the third inning grand slam. Lewis would end game two going 2-4 with a run scored and three stolen bases.
The Mavs will head to Pitt-Bradford on Wednesday before returning home next Saturday for Senior Day. First pitch at Pitt-Bradford is scheduled for 1 PM.
