MUCKDOGS COME FROM BEHIND TO STAY ATOP THE PGCBL

Batavia, NY - The Batavia Muckdogs scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as they defeated the Newark Pilots 6-4. 

Batavia won its fourth game versus Newark this season, sweeping the season series. 

After lopsided Muckdog victories on Sunday and Wednesday, this matchup proved to be a pitchers' duel between Newark and Batavia starters Ethan Chavez and Jaden Sherwood. 

Kyle Vaughn started the scoring for the Muckdogs in the bottom of the second, grounding into a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded. Right fielder Jacob Veczko followed with an RBI single, putting Batavia up 2-0 after two innings. 

Those two runs proved to be all the scoring until the seventh inning. Sherwood, a West Division all-star, proved to be brilliant, going 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out five Pilot hitters. 

Heading into the seventh, Muckdog pitching had held Newark scoreless for 19 straight innings dating back to their first matchup on June 18. With one out, that streak would finally come to an end, as first baseman Alex Wooton grounded an RBI single off Brayden Horton’s glove and into right field, making it a 2-1 ballgame headed to the eighth. 

The Pilots kept on scoring in the following frame, drawing five walks and tallying one hit, a controversial infield single from left fielder Nick Digiacomo, to take a 4-2 lead. 

Trailing for the first time all day, the Muckdogs wasted no time with their response, loading the bases with one out for 4-5-6 in their order. Following a strikeout from Jackson Inman, it was James Bolton who proved to be the hero, lining a two-out, two-run single into center field to tie the game at four. With runners on the corners, second baseman Omar Carreras hit a high fly ball into shallow left field, which dropped between Digiacomo and shortstop Cooper Loyal, allowing two runs to score and giving Batavia a 6-4 lead. 

After recording the final two outs in the eighth inning, Eric Woodley returned to the mound to toss a scoreless ninth inning, securing the Muckdog victory. For Woodley, it was his second win of the season, improving his record to 2-0. 

Batavia improved to 24-10-1 on the season. They hold a 1.5-game lead over the Jamestown Tarp Skunks for first place in the West Division. Newark sits at 15-18-2, 5.5 games out of a playoff spot. 

The Muckdogs are back in action on July 18th, as they take on the Elmira Pioneers at Dunn Field. The game begins at 6:30 PM and will be livestreamed on the Batavia Muckdogs YouTube Channel. The Muckdogs return home on Sunday, July 20th, at 4 PM versus the Niagara Falls Americans. People in attendance will have the opportunity to receive a free Diamond Dance Photo from the KMS Diamond Dance Team. Tickets start as low as $9. To purchase tickets or learn more information, please call (585) 524-2260 or visit our website at https://www.canusamuckdogs.com/.