Utica Sweeps Doubleheader off Mohawk Valley

By Josh McMullen

LITTLE FALLS, NY – The Utica Blue Sox had a combined five home runs over two games in a sweep of Mohawk Valley, 14-6 and 10-3 on Tuesday.

The Blue Sox started off Game One with four runs, leaving the Diamond Dawgs hitless in the bottom of the inning. The Diamond Dawgs clawed back in the second, however, with back-to-back doubles by Jaden Santiago (Columbia) and Aiden Streeter (American International).

Connor Jones (George Washington) extended the lead back to four on a 2-RBI single to left field. Another run came home in the inning on a throwing error by the Mohawk Valley second baseman with the bases loaded. The lead went up to eight on a bases-clearing double by Michael Flashner (College of Staten Island).

Another run came back to the home team on a Utica error that allowed Kyle Coleman (Belmont) to score with the bases loaded.

Jack Sweeney (Rutgers) put the eleventh run on the board in the sixth with a solo home run to center field. The Blue Sox would add another three in the inning to take a 14-3 lead into the bottom of the inning.

Erick Diaz (UCONN) brought the game back to single digits with a two-run home run to right field, scoring Santiago as well.

Coleman hit a solo home run to left field to cut the lead to eight, but that was as close as it would get, as Utica only allowed one base runner in the seventh after that to close out Game One.

Jordan Ake (CCSU) got the win for Utica, while Jack Donlin (Maine) got the loss.

In Game Two, Caleb Miller (Union) got the scoring going in the second with a solo home run to left field. They extended the lead in the third on a two-RBI double by Anthony Perritano (Murray St.) Ethan Madison (Trevecca Nazarene) extended the lead to four on another two-RBI double in the inning.

Sweeney added another two in the fourth, sending yet another home run over the left field fence.

The Diamond Dawgs finally got on the board in the fourth, with Joe Crenshaw (Richmond) hitting a run home on a fielder’s choice. However, the Blue Sox regained the six-run lead on a solo home run by Madison and to seven on an RBI single by Flashner.

The Diamond Dawgs cut the lead to six on an RBI single by Connor Scanlan (Fairfield) in the sixth.

Perritano walked home a run in the seventh, and Johnny Amato (Caldwell) set Mohawk Valley down with just two runs in the bottom of the inning to end the doubleheader.

Anthony Catalano got the win, while Colin Kroner got the loss.

Mohawk Valley is back at home on Thursday when they host the Amsterdam Mohawks.

Photos by Dave Warner