Dutchmen Lose, Fall Under .500 for First Time

The Albany Dutchmen fell to the Amsterdam Mohawks (16-7) Wednesday night, dropping to 11-12 and under .500 for the first time this season and making it 7 of the last 10 they’ve lost.

Amsterdam got off to a quick, as they put runners on first and second with no outs to begin the game. Joe Genord (University of South Florida) would begin his hot night at the plate, as he laced a double to right center field to score both runners and give the visitors a 2-0 advantage after the first.

The second inning began as quickly as the first, as Dan Maynard (University of Maryland) led off with a double. After Chris LaVorgna (Franklin Pierce University) walked with two outs, Mohawks coach Keith Griffin instituted a double steal to make it second and third. Tyler Frank (Florida Atlantic University) would make the Dutchmen starter Jared Gold (Coastal Carolina University) as the third Mohawks double of the game made it 4-0.

After a double from Austin Botello (New Mexico State University) and RBI single from Tyler Ungerland (College of Saint Rose) made it a 5-0 game, the Mohawks made the Dutchmen go to the bullpen and cut the start from Gold short. Joe Pokrentwoski (College of Saint Rose) would take over, but his evening would also be cut short after taking a liner off the wrist against the first batter he faced. Jackson Bubala (Dartmouth College) would take over and after allowing a walk and getting a strikeout, another two RBI double from Genord would make it a 7-0 ballgame.

The Dutchmen’s only run would come in the bottom of the fifth, as Micah McHugh (University of Mississippi) led off with a single, moved up to second on a hit by pitch from Mychael Goudreau (Azusa Pacific University) and to third on a error. Jon Skidmore (Dallas Baptist Univeristy) would score McHugh, as he grounded out to score McHugh and make it 7-1.

Amsterdam would tack on the final two runs in the 8th, as an RBI from LaVorgna scored Botello after his leadoff single and moving up on a wild pitch and single. The second run of the inning would come from an RBI single from Frank scored LaVorgna from second after he moved to second off an error.

The Dutchmen would get two runners on base in the two remaining innings, as JJ Shimko (University of South Carolina Upstate) got hit by a pitch with one out and Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican University) walked with two, but Kyle Skeels (Coastal Carolina University) struck out to strand them.

In the 9th, McHugh led off with a single and Goudreau followed with a walk. After though, the tide would turn. Skidmore lined one to the left side, and after Tristen Carranza (New Mexico State) made a leaping catch to retire him, threw to second to get McHugh off the bag. Carson Klepzig (University of Mississippi) would next strike out, and the game was over.

Amsterdam will remain on the road tomorrow, as they visit the Saugerties Stallions for a 6:30 first pitch at Cantine Memorial Field.