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Dutchmen Walk-Off Twice; Take Two From Amsterdam

Albany, NY – On a night where the Albany Dutchmen (8-1) had to resume a suspended game from opening night vs. the Amsterdam Mohawks (5-8) and play a regularly scheduled nine-inning game, it had a flair for the dramatic, and walked-off twice.

In the first game starting at 6:00 PM, the Dutchmen resumed a game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the 8^th inning from opening night. Albany was unable to score in the home half, but Amsterdam couldn’t get anything done in the top of the 9^th, either.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and a runner on 2^nd, Dutchmen head coach Nick Davey (4^th season) decided to send Chris Suseck (Coastal Carolina) to pinch-hit for Luke Nethaway (St. Rose). Suseck took advantage of the opportunity, and hit a walk-off single through the hole on the right side to score Danny Crowe (Elon). The win gave the Dutchmen an “opening night” victory, and improved their record to 7-1.

Chad Moss (Davidson) got the win in the first game for the Dutchmen, which was rescheduled from June 5^th. Mohawks righty Christian Bartholomew (Wake Forest) got saddled with the loss.

Then in the second game, regularly scheduled at 7:05 PM, the Dutchmen would do it again in walk-off fashion, but this time in extras.

The game started off slow between Albany and Amsterdam, with the game scoreless through the first four and a half innings. Dutchmen starter Jimmy Davitt (Bryant) and Mohawk lefty, and former Dutchmen, Matt Snyder (Fulton-Montgomery Community College) were locked up in a pitcher’s duel.  Davitt ended up going six and two-thirds innings, allowing just 5 hits and striking out 4. Snyder went 5 innings and only allowed 3 hits.

Albany struck first in the bottom of the 5^th with an RBI base knock by Joe Purritano (Dartmouth). His single drove in Tyler Orris (Millersville) and put the Dutchmen up 1-0.

Amsterdam responded in the top of the 7^th and scored two runs with RBI singles by Jordan Ebert (Auburn) and John Sansone (Florida State). But the lead wouldn’t last for long. The Dutchmen once again had an answer for the Mohawks. Matt Dacey (Richmond) drove in Purritano with an RBI double down the right field line to tie the game at 2.

Neither team could get it done in the 9^th, so the game headed to extras. Scoreless in the 10^th, it was Albany who won it in the 11^th. Amsterdam stranded a runner on 3^rd in the top of the inning, but Albany wouldn’t make the same mistake. Brian Ruhm (UC Davis) drew a lead-off walk, and then stole second. With Nate Rupiper (Memphis) facing a 1-0 count, it was once again walk-off time for the Dutchmen. He sent a fastball down the right field line and drove home Ruhm for the game-winner. The Dutchmen took it 3-2 over the Mohawks in 11 innings. It was the first extra-inning game for either team this season.

Tom Belcher (Indiana) notched his first win of the season for Albany while Mike Urbanski (Binghamton) falls to 0-2 for the Mohawks.

The Dutchmen extend their league-best record to 8-1 and have now won 3 straight. Amsterdam falls to 5-8 and remains in last place in the Eastern Division.

The 9^th-ranked Dutchmen stay home tomorrow on Friday, June 21^st to take on the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. It’s CDTA Kids In Free Night, plus “Facebook Fridays,” with extra rewards for fans who ‘like’ the Albany Dutchmen on Facebook. First pitch is set for 7:05.