Indians Lose in 11th
Rome Settles For Split With Plattsburgh

by Scott Montesano
Rome Indians Marketing Intern

(Plattsburgh, NY) The Plattsburgh Thunder overcame a late five-run deficit, and then scored on an infield error in the 11th to defeat the Rome Indians 14-13 in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday night.

The Indians won the opener of the twinbill 6-3 to at least leave the Champlain Valley with a split. Still, if it weren’t for a spectacular Plattsburgh rally in the nightcap the Indians would have swept the doubleheader.

Trailing 12-7 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Thunder came storming back.

Doug Eitleman led off with a line drive to rightfield that skipped past the fielder and all the way to the wall, allowing him to move to third. Eitleman then scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 12-8.

Then in the eighth inning, with lightning literally flashing beyond the rightfield fence, the Thunder would strike hard. Plattsburgh loaded the bases with one out and would take advantage. Mike Rivers was hit by a pitch and Ryan Meron reached on an infield hit to make it 12-10. Dan Stuart followed with a two-run single to leftfield tying the game 12-12.

The Thunder then took a 13-12 lead on a single by David Travis. This was Plattsburgh’s first lead of the entire day, as the Indians led from the start in both games.

However, the Indians answered in the top of the ninth to even the game up. Damian Blakeley worked a lead walk and Chase Huotari had a bunt single to put runners at first and second. A sacrifice bunt by Matt Devins put both runners in the scoring position. Tarron Acuff followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Blakeley to make it 13-13.

For the Indians this was the first time they had scored a run in the ninth inning all season. Nevertheless, Plattsburgh would prevail in the 11th inning, capitalizing on an infield throwing error. With one out, Plattsburgh had runners at first and third. The Thunder attempted a double steal and amongst the confusion the throw ended up in the outfield allowing the winning run to score.

Cory Newman took the loss on the mound for the Indians. Despite suffering the loss, Newman –an outfielder by trade - fared quite well in three innings of relief. One must consider that by Newman’s own admission he never has been a pitcher, even in high school.

The loss did dampened what had been an excellent day for the Indians offense. With their 13 runs in the nightcap, Rome scored in double-digits for the first time since last July. Rome also combined for 25 hits in the two games.

Rome native Kevin Ryan had four hits, while Jeff Justice added three hits for the Indians over the two games. Kyle Barrett tossed in four RBIs to now give him 20 on the season.

Barrett, along with Cory Newman each had homeruns for the Indians during the doubleheader.

In the opener of the twinbill, Newman’s three-run homerun in the top of the fifth broke open a tight contest a propelled Rome to the 6-3 win.

Pat Dougherty was efficient over five innings to earn the victory, while Soren Johnson picked up his sixth save.

The split puts the Indians to 4.0 games behind second place Mohawk Valley and drops the Indians magic number for elimination to 3.

Mohawk Valley did play in Watertown on Wednesday night but a score was not available early Thursday morning.

The Indians will continue their six-game road trip Thursday night in Watertown at 7pm.

Box Scores

Game 1

					R	H	E
Rome	101	040	000	-	6	11	0
Plattsburgh	000	000	030	-	3	7	3

WP: Pat Dougherty (3-2)
LP: Pat Hughes (N/A)
S: Soren Johnson (6)

2B: Rome – Jeremy O’Neill, Jeff Justice, Mike Weckenman, Kyle Mihalskie
      Plattsburgh – Pat Hughes, David Travis

HR: Rome – Cory Newman
      Plattsburgh – Ryan Meron

Time: 2:34

Game 2

					R	H	E
Rome	423	010	201 0 0	-	13	14	6
Plattsburgh	300	400	150 0 1	-	14	11	4

WP: Liam Miller (N/A)
LP: Cory Newman (0-1)

2B: Rome – Kevin Ryan, Mike Weckenman, Tarron Acuff
      Plattsburgh – Doug Eitleman

HR: Rome – Kyle Barrett
      Plattsburgh – David Travis, Liam Miller

Time: 3:54

Rome (17-18) Plattsburgh (13-25)