Glens Falls Makes It Back-to-Back Over Albany
Facing the Albany Dutchmen for the second straight game, the Glens Falls Golden Eagles finally came through in the middle innings, scoring five of their seven runs in the fourth, fifth, and six innings, adding another run in the eighth, and defeating the Dutchmen 7-2 on eight hits.
In front of more than 900 screaming fans, many of them children from the local school districts, the Golden Eagles improved their overall win-loss record to 8-4 on the season and moved ahead one-game over the Watertown Wizards, who they will play Thursday night at 7 p.m.
Come to the game early enough with your grandparents for Grandparents night at East Field and the first 250 fans will receive a free set of Thundersticks, which they can slam together and cheer on the hometown team as they look to extend their first place lead in the East Division.
Leading off the game with a base hit to shallow right, freshman Pepito Moreno (Pima C.C) scored the games’ first run when his college teammate, fellow freshman Justin Zumwalde (Pima C.C.), slapped a single past a diving shortstop and pushed the Golden Eagles ahead 1-0.
Batting in the third hole, freshman left fielder Rodarrick Jones (New Orleans) then lined a single to center and stole second to move into scoring position for sophomore third basemen Sean Lamont (Georgetown) who aided in the two-run fourth inning for the Golden Eagles. With another stolen base today, Jones now leads the team with four thefts.
“I thought I was a little over aggressive trying to steal that first base,” Jones said. “I just wanted to make something happen and I did there that second time.”
Lamont followed Jones with a single of his own, followed by a sac fly from Zumwalde to advance Jones to third. With runners now at the corners, Glens Falls tried a double steal. Lamont stole second safely, which allowed Jones to scurry home on the throw, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Zumwalde would again reach base on a fielding error in the sixth, scoring a roped double deep into the left field corner by junior catcher Gary DerHagopian (Siena).
In his five plate appearances on the day, Moreno hit three singles, earned one walk, and drove in sophomore designated hitter Chris Lashmet (Northwestern) who reached base on a walk in the sixth inning.
A sacrifice by Jones in the fifth allowed junior Anthony Giansanti (Siena) to score after he reached base on an error by the opposing catcher.
“I’m comfortable with my spot in the order and we’ve got a great two-three combo,” Jones said. “Anywhere in the lineup is good, and as long as I’m in the lineup, I can’t complain about anything.”
In total, the Albany Dutchmen committed five fielding errors, which allowed Glens Falls to plate three unearned runs. Albany also walked three Golden Eagle hitters and beamed two others.
DerHagopian, who jacked a three-run homer against Albany on Sunday, tallied two more RBI when his seeing-eye single in the eighth scored Phillips who had reached base on a hit by pitch. In the past two games, DerHagopian has five RBI and eight total on the season, with Jones leading the team with 11 RBI.
Behind another stud pitching performance from junior southpaw Chase Richard (Southern), who tossed five shutout innings, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out in his last outing against the Albany Dutchmen, Glens Falls cruised to the five-run victory.
“Last start, Chase did an outstanding job,” Pitching Coach Brett Merritt said. “He went out there again today and kept throwing strikes.”
This afternoon, Richard did much of the same, allowing just one base runner through the games’ first four innings. Much like he did against Albany in the Golden Eagles’ second game of the season, Richard maintained his composure on the mound, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning.
After an error started the inning, the next batter singled. Both those runners scored, making the game 4-2 in favor of Glens Falls. Then Richard struck out his fourth batter of the game for the innings’ first out.
“If it wasn’t for the error to start the inning, it would have been another great 1-2-3 inning” Merritt said. “We kind of had him on a pitch count, but he was still throwing strong and did a great job again today.”
The next Albany hitters also singled, but it was the double play ball and Albany’s mis-communication on the base-pads that allowed second basemen Kevin Berry (New Orleans) and shortstop Moreno to turn an inning-ending double play and stymied the Dutchmen rally.
Richard lasted two more innings after that troublesome spot there in the fourth, pitching seven total innings, allowing zero earned runs on five hits, striking out five and walking only one. Freshmen righty reliever Andrew Brown (Akron) came in to close the deal, pitching two scoreless and hitless innings. Richard leads the team with a 0.52 ERA in 17 total innings pitched.
Up next for the first place Golden Eagles, they travel to Mohawk Valley for a 7 p.m. game against the last place Diamond Dawgs. On the season, Glens Falls holds two wins over the Diamond Dawgs, winning both games, one at home and one on the road, 7-4.
The Golden Eagles host fourth place Saratoga on Friday night and again on Sunday night, looking to avenge their early home losses against the Phillies. Father’s Day is Sunday, so bring your dad out to the ballpark for Dogs on the Diamond Night.
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