MUCKDOGS DROP SECOND ROADGAME

Auburn, NY - Muckdogs drop second road game in a row to the Auburn Doubledays in a disappointing 5-3 loss. 

After coming off a road defeat to Jamestown, the Muckdogs dropped their second game in a row in a tight loss to the Auburn Doubledays. 

It was All-Star Jaden Sherwood who took the hill for the Muckdogs. Prior to this game, he had been dominant, going at least five innings in each of his past four starts. The Doubledays had a standout of their own on the mound in Eric Korzeniewski, who entered the game with a very respectable 29 innings pitched and a 3.72 ERA. 

Auburn applied pressure to Sherwood from the start, beginning in the first inning as Tyler Vivacqua led off with a hit and eventually came around to score on an Anthony Decesare fielder’s choice RBI. 

The Doubledays continued to attack Sherwood in the second, as Sam Meyer made his presence felt with a two-out RBI single into left field, expanding Auburn’s lead to 2-0 by the end of the 2nd inning. 

After another smooth inning by Eric Korzeniewski, the Doubledays lineup was back at it in the bottom of the third. A leadoff single from Mark Gialussi, followed by a hit batter and a walk to Charlie Wortham, loaded the bases with one out. A strikeout to Gianni Dicerbo gave Sherwood a little breathing room before Caden Albright brought in two runs with a two-out single, increasing Auburn’s lead to 4-0. That would mark the end of Sherwood’s day, as switch-pitcher Walker Glyshaw came in and escaped the inning unscathed. 

As always, when the Muckdogs take a hit, they throw one right back. In the top of the 4th, a Travis Hammond walk would start the rally the Muckdogs needed. Hammond then stole second, and Brayden Horton worked another free pass. With two runners on, Cooper Fesh came to the plate and laid down a perfect bunt for an infield single, creating a bases-loaded situation for Omar Carreras. Omar did his job, recording the first RBI of the game for the Muckdogs with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hammond. After Omar, it was James Bolton’s turn to bring in a run. He hit a ground ball that looked destined to be an inning-ending double play, but a misthrow to first allowed another Muckdogs run to score, cutting Auburn’s lead to just 4-2. Korzeniewski would recover and end the inning, allowing only two runs—just one of them earned. 

In the bottom of the 4th, the Doubledays scratched across their only run against Walker Glyshaw via a sac fly by Mark Gialussi, which brought in the speedy Sam Meyer and gave Auburn a more comfortable 5-2 lead. 

The 5th inning went scoreless. The Doubledays’ starter was relieved after five innings of marvelous work—he allowed only one hit and one earned run, walking five and striking out four. He was relieved by Maxwell Schumaker in the 6th inning. Schumaker, a newcomer to the Doubledays, was making his first appearance with the club. He didn’t get the best welcoming gift, as in the top of the 6th, Brayden Horton absolutely tattooed a ball into deep right field, clearing the wall and cutting the Doubledays' lead to 5-3. That was the second home run hit by a Muckdog this season, with utility man Justin Espinal hitting one earlier in the year against Jamestown. 

Unfortunately, that was the end of the scoring, as Maxwell Schumaker would settle down and give the Doubledays a strong 3.1 innings, allowing just 4 hits and striking out 3. The Muckdogs bullpen was strong as well, with Walker Glyshaw and Reed Marcum combining for 5.1 innings pitched, each allowing only one hit. 

Tyler Vivacqua—the hitter/pitcher—came into the 9th and recorded his 4th save of the season, getting two outs and allowing just one hit to solidify Auburn’s 5-3 victory over Batavia. 

With the loss, Batavia’s record moves to 27-12-1 on the season. They still hold a one game lead over for first place in the West Division. Auburn, with the win, moves to 22-13 on the season. The race for the 1 and 2 seed is coming to a head as there are only 5 games left in the regular season !  

The Muckdogs are back in action today, July 23rd, as they take on the Niagara Falls Americans. The game begins at 6:30 PM and will be livestreamed on the Batavia Muckdogs YouTube Channel. The Muckdogs return home on Thursday, July 24th, at 6:30 PM versus the Auburn Doubledays. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to receive a free team photo of all your favorite Muckdogs players!  

You don’t want to miss it! Tickets start as low as $9.  
To purchase tickets or learn more information, please call (585) 524-2260 or visit our website at www.canusamuckdogs.com.