After falling into a third place tie with Glens Falls last week, the Albany Dutchmen reopened their lead for the final playoff berth in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League’s East Division with a pair of wins.
Albany (20-23) ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over Glens Falls Saturday, July 26, at Bob Bellizzi Field. The Dutchmen then struck for a season high in runs by beating Mohawk Valley 16-4 Sunday, July 27, in Little Falls.
Glens Falls’ visit couldn’t have come at a better time for Albany. The Dutchmen were desperate to regain sole possession of third place following a four-game losing streak, which dropped their record to a season-low five games below .500.
Albany ace Drew Tolson turned in a complete-game performance to pick up the victory over the Golden Eagles (17-24). He scattered seven hits and struck out six in nine innings, and he faced five over the minimum of 27 batters.
Most of Glens Falls’ damage came in the top of the second inning, when the Golden Eagles scored their lone run on three hits. But Albany’s offense picked up Tolson with a run in the bottom of the third and two more in the fourth inning. Justin Brock drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly, and Danny Hrbek added a two-out RBI double in the fourth inning.
Adam Lee and Sean Aspinall also drove in runs for the Dutchmen against Glens Falls pitcher John Leiter, who allowed six hits in eight innings of work.
Albany’s offense took off against Mohawk Valley (24-18) in Sunday’s game. The Dutchmen scored three times in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead and added five runs in the top of the fourth, on their way to the 16-4 win.
Nick Jewett had two big hits for Albany — a two-run double in the fourth inning, and a three-run homer in the top of the ninth. Ernie Clement drove in three runs with a pair of singles, and Will Miller added a two-run single in the seventh inning.
Albany was scheduled to host Mohawk Valley Monday, July 28, in a key PGCBL game. After visiting Glens Falls Tuesday, July 29, before closing out the regular season Wednesday, July 30, with a home game against league-leading Amsterdam (34-10).