Pilots, Railriders split season series

The Newark Pilots lost in a home contest to Victor Thursday night at Colburn Park, 14-2. With the loss the Pilots have split the eight-game season series with the Railriders.The Pilots fell behind early after surrendering five runs in the first inning, only one of which was earned on the line of Newark starter Max Ludka (Saginaw Valley State). Ludka didn’t have his best stuff in this outing, issuing four walks in the opening frame.Newark would respond in the bottom of the first with Chris Sharpe hitting a triple to left center on the first pitch of the inning. The triple was Sharpe’s fifth of the season, which ties him for the most in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Sharpe would be brought home on a sacrifice bunt pushed up the first base line by Julian Gallup (Niagara).Ludka’s day would end in the fourth inning with his final line showing three earned runs allowed in his second start of the season. Xan Reese (Northeast Miss. C.C.) would come in long-relief and work two and two-thirds innings while giving up two runs.D.J. Mendenhall would come on in the eighth inning and work two scoreless frames to close out the game for the Pilots.Trailing 14-1 in the ninth, Ching-Wei Sen (Vanung) would hit his second double of the game and would later come across to finish the scoring for the Pilots on an RBI single from Sharpe.Nathan Koslowski (Jacksonville) was the highlight for Victor going 5-for-5 in the ballgame to give him 13 hits on the season series with the Pilots. Brennan Smith (Canisius) would earn the victory after throwing eight innings of one-run ball.The Pilots start a three-game road trip tomorrow starting with a game against Elmira, followed by a two-game set in Jamestown.Also on Thursday night… The Geneva Red Wings picked up a 4-3 road with at Jamestown.Thursday’s Games:Mohawk Valley 15 Adirondack 4Albany 2 Amsterdam 1Geneva 4 Jamestown 3Glens Falls 10 Saugerties 3Victor 14 Newark 2Friday’s Games:Mohawk Valley at Adirondack 7:05 p.m.Albany at Amsterdam 6:35 p.m.Newark at Elmira 7:05 p.m.Utica at Geneva 7:05 p.m.Oneonta at Glens Falls 7 p.m.Jamestown at Victor 5 p.m.