Coming off that stingy 13-11 defeat at the hands of the Newark Pilots on Sunday, Elmira took to the road again last night to battle the Outlaws. In 2019 Elmira took two of three matchups at Damaschke Field, and they looked to replicate that success and get back on track.
Holden Wilder threw against Oneonta last Tuesday going 4 innings and taking the loss in that ball game as he surrendered 4 runs (all earned) via 7 hits and 2 free passes. Seeing the same club again that knocked him around a bit gave him a bit of a fire heading in as Joe Hughes looked to Jake Sandridge.
Both teams stranded a runner in scoring position in the first inning, but it was Elmira who broke through in the second. Chris Erickson drew a walk and came all the way around on an RBI triple to the gap in right center field from Peter Theodorellis. Carson Hobbs in his first start of the season at second, doubled the lead to 2-0 bringing in Theodorellis on a clutch 2 strike single.
Oneonta added one back to slice the deficit when Henry Pelinski put a ball in play on a sacrifice to drive Brendan Harris across. With the score now 2-1 Elmira, the Pios went back to work in the third.
Using a couple long outs off the bat and an error by Oneonta second basemen Mario Demera, Elmira plated three in the top of the 3rd. Jeff Mejia, Dom Popa, and Sam Polanco all scored to push it to a 5-1 advantage.
Jake Sandrige lost his command a bit in the fourth inning as the Pios worked him for a handful or walks and two more sac flys to now have an extensive 7-1 lead in the middle of the fourth.
Oneonta scored 8 unanswered runs in the game, with the big blows coming from a bases clearing 3 RBI triple from Isaiah Corry and a 2 RBI double from Yuzuki Okamura. Securing the game 9-7 as Elmira could only grasp one hit off the five innings of the Outlaws pen, the Pios dropped to 13-9.
Looking to get back on track, the rival Newark Pilots are making the trip in as the Pioneers play host at historic Dunn Field tonight at 7:05pm. Grab your tickets now by calling (607) 734-2690 and support the 2021 team.