A rare show of power helped the Albany Dutchmen complete a home-and-home sweep of Mohawk Valley.
The Dutchmen registered four extra-base hits as part of a 10-hit night in a 7-2 victory over the DiamondDawgs Friday, June 19, in a Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League contest at Bob Bellizzi Field.
Latham native Zach Remillard led the way for Albany (8-8) with four hits and three RBI, and starting pitcher Mike Reitcheck tossed seven strong innings to pick up his second win in as many starts.
“Tonight was probably the most complete baseball game we’ve played all year,” said Albany manager Nick Davey.
Adam Gauthier (Dartmouth) belted a one-out triple and scored on the first of Remillard’s three singles to start the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Sean Aspinall (Azusa Pacific) launched a lead-off triple in the third inning and scored Albany’s second run on Patrick Hisle’s groundout. Gauthier later scored on a fielder’s choice to put the Dutchmen ahead 3-0.
Reitcheck (Penn) cruised through Mohawk Valley’s lineup until the fifth inning, when the DiamondDawgs scored on a wild pitch. Mohawk Valley added a run in the top of the sixth and threatened to do more, but Reitcheck worked out of a bases-loaded jam to escape the inning with Albany ahead 3-2.
The Dutchmen extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Remillard – who beat out an infield single to start the frame – scored on Slayton Vaughan’s sacrifice fly, and Aspinall added a two-run single to put Albany ahead 6-2.
Remillard (Coastal Carolina) provided one more clutch hit for Albany. With one out and Eric Mueller (University at Albany) standing on first base, Remillard drilled an RBI triple to right field to make the score 7-2.
“It’s funny. I looked at our stats for the first time all year, and I noticed the lack of extra-base hits,” said Davey.
Aspinall and Dominic DiCaprio each contributed a pair of hits for the Dutchmen, who defeated Mohawk Valley 4-2 one night earlier in Little Falls.
Albany couldn’t carry the momentum from its home-and-home sweep of Mohawk Valley into last weekend’s road trip. Amsterdam shut out Albany 9-0 Saturday, June 20, and Elmira rallied from a 7-0 deficit to edge the Dutchmen 8-7 Sunday, June 21.
Amsterdam’s pitchers stymied Albany’s hitters Saturday. Starter Fernando Guerrero allowed one hit and struck out eight in six innings of work, and three Mohawks relievers combined to toss three hitless innings. Hunter Boose had Albany’s lone hit on a fourth inning single.
Riley Mahan led Amsterdam’s offense with three hits, two RBI and a run scored. Brendan Tracy contributed a pair of hits, including a solo home run.
Sunday in Elmira, Albany scored three times in the top of the first inning and added four runs in the second to build its seven-run lead. Michael Bollmer had the big hit for the Dutchmen with a two-run homer in the first frame.
Elmira stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the second inning and took the lead with a four-run sixth inning. All four of the Pioneers’ runs in the sixth scored on two hit batsmen, a walk and a wild pitch by Albany’s bullpen.
Remillard led the way for Albany with two hits and a run scored.
The Dutchmen’s next home game is Wednesday, June 24, against Glens Falls.
