Pios Snap 6 Game Skid, Down Muckdogs 8-4

Following up a stingy 9-8 loss to the Muckdogs up at Dwyer Stadium last night, the Pioneers returned to Elmira to face Batavia in the second of a three games in three days series between the two sides. Whenever these two teams meet up, there never seems to be a candle that goes unlit as the battles are absolutely intense. Tonight was no different.

Making his first start of the season, Todd Tringale took the ball for Elmira and on the Batavia side Nathan Hinkley grabbed the nod. Hinkley served as the only Batavia starter who had taken a decision in all of his starts so far on the season, having suffered defeat against Niagara 11 days ago in his most recent one.

The Muckdogs jumped on top by a 2-0 score in the Top of the 2nd frame when Mitch Fleming sailed a 1-2 fastball out of Dunn Field after a leadoff walk by the all so patient Charlie Szykowny. Mitch Fleming continued his hot streak in the Top of the 4th inning as well, pushing another ball out of the park to triple the lead at now 3-0.

Elmira however put up 8 of the next 9 runs over the final 5 innings to earn the victory. Chris Erickson doubled in the bottom of the 5th inning and after Justin Taylor moved him over to 3rd, Jaron McNeil-Ward had a sac fly to make it a 3-1 Batavia game.

Donovan Montgomery doubled in Trevor Henneman and Bobby Marsh brought around Dom Popa and Montgomery in the 6th to put Elmira on top 4-3.

Elmilien Pitre, Henneman, and Popa all picked up RBIs in the 7th inning and Marsh came in on a wild pitch in the 8th. Despite the Batavia run in the Top of the 9th, it was far from enough as Tom Cattaneo was brilliant in 4 relief innings. He grabbed the win and rightfully so on the bump.

Elmira's back in action tomorrow night at 7:05pm at Dwyer Stadium to battle Batavia for the third straight game. Catch all the fun live on YouTube and Mixlr.