Elmira Pios hammer Newark on Tuesday, 10-1

The Elmira Pioneers (7-8) have a five run first inning to dominate the Newark Pilots (7-9) by a final score of 10-1. The win gives Elmira a half game lead atop the West Division. The Pioneers offense started off hot as seven of their nineteen hits came in the games’ first at-bats. Chris Kalousdian (Manhattan) started things off with a single to center which was quickly followed by five more singles and a double. Ryan Plantier (Cornell), Dave Hoffman (Siena) and Parker Curry (Samford) are accredited with an RBI while Spencer Henderson (UC Davis) brought in two. Elmira’s Tommy Alexander (1-1, Old Dominion) made easy work of the Pilots pitching a four hitter allowing only one run in seven innings. Alexander was supported with an additional five runs after the first inning. Chris Gould (Saint Rose) came in relief to shutout the Pilots in the last two innings. The New York native strikeout two, allowing no runs and no hits. Newark pitcher Will Spitzfaden ( 1-2, Southeast Missouri State) was lackluster allowing thirteen hits and eight runs over four innings. The Pilot offense struggled against Alexander with only the designated hitter Matt Mckinnon (University of Pennsylvania) reaching base twice on singles. Every batter for the Pioneers had a hit with six of them registered at least two. Chris Kalousdian went 3-for-4 and scored four times for Elmira. Ryan Plantier, the designated hitter, was a game high 4-for-5 at the plate and scored twice. The winning team finished with fourteen singles and five doubles on the night. The win for the Pioneers makes them 3-and-1 against the Pilots this year. Newark travels to the Adirondacks to face the Trailblazers before coming back to Colburn Park Thursday June 27th to battle the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. Elmira goes back home to face the Utica Brewers tomorrow night.