Newark Pilots’ offense comes alive in Saturday win

The Newark Pilots (7-6) scored five runs on five hits in the fifth inning to pull past the Watertown Rams (5-8) by a final of 7-4. The win gives Newark a one-game lead atop the West Division.Trailing 4-0, Josh Ludwig (University of Rochester) began the inning with a single to right field. With two outs, Sam Fox (Pomona-Pitzer) doubled, driving in the first run of the game. Max Rosing (Cortland) singled home a run, followed by consecutive RBI triples by Jacob Russell (Kentucky) and David Vandercook (Columbia). Vandercook then scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch from Watertown starter Jake Jenkins (Pacific). The Pilots then added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning, extending their lead to 7-4. Newark hit three consecutive singles off Jenkins, including an RBI single from Vandercook, before he was relieved by Logan Grant (Creighton). Grant forced the first batter he faced, Steve Laurino (Marist), to ground out to third, but Russell was able to score the seventh run for Newark. The Rams took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning against Newark starting pitcher Eddie Emes (Greater Allegheny). Bryce Greager (Chandler Gilbert C.C.) slugged a three-run homer off the scoreboard in left field to put Watertown ahead by three. Emes pitched 3 2/3 innings, surrendering the three runs on only two hits but walked five. Joe Pokrentowski (1-0, St. Rose) came out of the bullpen in relief of Emes, earning the win while tossing 2 1/3 innings, giving up a run on two hits. Donald Frew (Young Harris) earned his third save of the season.Batting third, fourth and fifth respectively for the Pilots, Rosing, Russell and Vandercook each collected two hits while combining for five runs and four RBI.Greager drove in a game-high three runs with his second long ball of the season, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jenkins (0-1) was tagged with the loss after pitching 6 1/3 innings and giving up all seven runs. He also fanned a game-high seven batters.The Rams travel back home to face the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs on Sunday. The Pilots’ next home game is on Monday, June 24th at 7:05 p.m. against the Syracuse Salt Cats from the New York Collegiate Baseball League. On Tuesday, they will host the Elmira Pioneers at Colburn Park with the first pitch at 7:15 p.m.