Pilots split double-header with Mohawk Valley

The Newark Pilots (17-24) split a doubleheader with the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs (23-16) Thursday night at Colburn Park. The Pilots took the first game 7-5 while the DiamondDawgs won 10-5 in the nightcap. Game 1A two-run RBI single by Steve Laurino (Marist) broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. Laurino’s single to center field brought in Sam Fox (Pomona-Pitzer) and Scott Matthews (Washington College) the eventual winning and insurance runs for the Pilots. Mohawk Valley took the first lead of the game scoring in the top of the first. Aggressive base-running put runners on first and third for a RBI sacrifice fly by Dalton Herrington (University of Louisiana at Monroe). Newark responded with five runs on six hits in the next two innings. With bases loaded in the second Samm Wiggins (Houston Baptist) cleared the bases on a double to center making it 3-1 Newark. Sam Fox (Pomona-Pitzer) earned his second of three singles in the third. The base hit brought home Laurino, and Max Rosing (Cortland State) extending the Pilot lead 5-2.The DiamondDawgs would tie the game during their next at-bat. With Newark leading 5-3, Casey Rodrigue (LSU Eunice) tripled scoring Jordan Friend (Alabama A&M). A Craig Lepre (University at Albany) double to left center would temporarily tie the game before Newark pulled away. Tyler Wilson (2-2, Buffalo) came in relief for the Pilots and gets his second win of the season while Donald Frew (Young Harris) registered his eighth save. DiamondDawgs reliever Taylor Wright (2-2, Brown) pitched five innings allowing three runs on nine hits and is credited with the loss. Wiggins had a game high three RBI for the Pilots while Fox, Laurino and Rosing all went 3-for-4. Rodrigue led Mohawk Valley going a perfect 4-for-4 on the night. Game 2A five run fifth and sixth inning pushed the DiamondDawgs past the Pilots during the second game of the doubleheader. Fox continued his hot streak as he went 3-for-4 in the second game. His single to right center brought in the first run of the game. He would later double in the fifth inning to record his second of two RBI. During the bottom of the fourth inning, Max Rosing hit a two-run homerun making the score 3-0 Pilots. The DiamondDawgs responded in the fifth scoring five runs on four hits. Herrington singled to center scoring Lepre and Matt Zanotta (Bryant). Herrington would later score on a Landon Thibodeaux single (LSU Eunice). At the end of the inning the DiamondDawgs took the lead 5-3. During the sixth, Jordan Serena (Columbia) tripled to left field adding two more runs to pad Mohawk Valley’s lead. Herrington added another RBI earning his third of the night. Jimmy Wagner (1-2, Ithaca) is slated with the loss pitching 4 2/3 innings and striking out seven. Mohawk starter Willie Shaw (2-0, William & Mary) gets the win allowing four runs on eight hits. Laurino continued his good night going 2-for-4. Ludwig and Matthews also went 2-for-4. Herrington and Serena finished the night with a combined five RBI for the DiamondDawgs. Newark will travel to Watertown tomorrow before hosting the Elmira Pioneers Saturday night, 7:05 at Colburn Park. Mohawk Valley’s, Friday night game, is back at Veterans Park against the Adirondack Trail Blazers.