WILLIAMSPORT — Sparked by a Muckdogs error, the Williamsport Crosscutters offense erupted in the top of the 7th, plating seven runs as they went on to defeat the Batavia Muckdogs 10-3 in the series opener in Batavia.
The Cutters jumped out to an early lead, despite not getting a base hit in the top of the 1st inning. Juan Luis led off the inning with a walk and advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch by starter Shane Sawczak.
After Darick Hall was hit by a Sawczeck offering, Hall was caught trying to steal 2nd base with two outs. Hall was able to stay in the rundown long enough for Luis to score from 3rd base, before the tag was applied to Hall for the final out of the inning.
Batavia tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning against Cutters starter JoJo Romero, getting a RBI double from catcher Pablo Garcia that scored Isaiah White from 2nd base, tying the game at 1-1.
The Muckdogs took their only lead of the game in the bottom of the 3rd inning, as Michael Garzillo’s RBI single to right-center chased home Corey Bird from 2nd base to give the Muckdogs the 2-1 advantage.
Darick Hall tied the game for the Cutters in the top of the 4th inning, sending a Saczek offering over the right field wall, on one of his trademark majestic blasts. The home run was the Hall’s team-leading 8th of the season and tied the game at 2-2.
Hall wasn’t done, driving home the go-ahead run for the Cutters in the top half of the 6th inning, on a single to left field that scored Luke Maglich from 2nd base and gave the Cutters a 3-2 lead.
Corey Bird tied the game at 3-3 against Cutters reliever Kenny Koplove with a RBI double to left-center, scoring Jhonny Santos from 1st base on a ball that was misplayed by Cutters leftfielder Juan Luis.
The Cutters entered the top of the 7th inning tied with the Muckdogs 3-3, but that would not be the way they would come out of the top half of the 7th inning.
The Cutters plated a season-high seven runs in the top half of the 7th inning, getting their first run on a wild pitch from Victor Delgado that scored Chandler Hall from 3rd with the bases loaded, that gave the Cutters a 4-3 lead.
Luke Williams’ two-run double gave the Cutters a 6-3 lead. Two batters later, Luis Encarnacion singled home two more runs to extend the Cutters lead to 8-3. Luis Espiritu followed with a RBI single giving the Cutters a 9-3 lead.
Chandler Hall capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring from 3rd base was Juan Luis. Williamsport left a runner at 3rd in the inning, which was sparked by an error by 3rd basemen Javier Lopez, dropping a routine pop up by David Martinelli on which would have been the 2nd out of the inning.
Darick Hall continued his hot streak, finishing the night 2-for-3, hitting his 8th home run of the season and collecting a pair of RBI to extend his team-lead to 27 on the season. Brett Barbier recorded his first three-hit night, finishing 3-for-5 with three singles.
Luke Williams and Luis Encarnacion each recorded two RBI night’s, for Williams he now has 14 RBI while Encarnacion ups his RBI total to 15.
Jon Hennigan was outstanding, entering with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th inning. Hennigan struck out Isaiah White to keep the game tied at 3-3. Hennigan went the final two innings, without allowing a run to earn his first professional save.
Williamsport continues their final road trip of the season, as they start a three-game series against the Batavia Muckdogs tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Cutter Carvings – The 10 runs are tied for the most runs scored by Williamsport and the second time the Crosscutters scored 10 runs against Batavia this season as the Cutters improve to 10-0 against the Muckdogs in 2016… The Cutters have scored 24 runs over their current three-game winning streak…Darick Hall has three home runs and 11 RBI over his last eight games…
