July 27, 2010 - Alfred – The Thunder had a shot to make or break their season in a double header against the Webster Yankees. Webster came in with a 20-17 record on the season, and were perched two and a half games ahead of Alfred, who came in at 18-20. The Thunder would turn to Sam Lewis and Josh Matthews to try and keep the playoff hopes alive.
The first game started off perfectly for Alfred, when Justin Fahy came home to score on a Bryan Lucas single. Unfortunately, the Thunder would only be able to muster one more hit the rest of the game, a single by Jay Olson in the 4th inning.
In the top of the 4th inning, Webster used a string of six hits to plate four runs off of starter Sam Lewis, and that 4-1 lead was all that Yankee’s starter Jason Gardner would need.
Lewis would end up finishing the 5th inning, with a final line of four earned runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out three. Greg Kilgore worked a scoreless 6th inning and then Roy Frick surrendered a run in the 7th and final inning, making the score 6-1.
With the loss, Alfred had their backs against the wall and turned to Northwood University starter Josh Matthews to help them prevail. Josh turned in a gutsy performance, throwing a complete game and battling through a sketchy defensive game by the Thunder.
Alfred once again scored the first run of the game, this time in the second inning. Jay Olson led off with a single, and then Yogi Vanaman followed with a double to left field. Zach Buckler then hit a fly ball to centerfield for the sacrifice fly, and giving the Thunder a 1-0 lead.
In the top half of the 4th inning, however, the Thunder ran into some problems. When the first two runners reached, Yankees DH Evan Wexler laid a bunt down in front of home plate and Zach Buckler’s throw to first base went all the way down the first base line. Both runners scored on the play, making the score 2-1, and the Thunder had yet to record an out.
When it came to gut-check time, Matthews was up for the challenge every time. In the 4th, Matthews retired the next three guys in order to leave an important runner stranded on third. In the 6th inning, the Yankees had another runner on third base with no one out when Josh went to work again. He struck out one, induced a groundout, and got the last batter to fly out to end the inning.
A bit of luck went the Thunder’s way in the bottom of the 6th, when a hot shot passed the shortstop rolled far enough into the gap to let Taylor Kaprive slide safely into second base to lead off the inning. Jay Olson then went to bunt him over and forced a bad throw by starter Brian Guillmete. The throw went all the way down the first base line, scoring Kaprive and allowing Olson to advance to second base. After Vanaman bunted Olson to third, Zach Buckler made up for the two run error he committed in the 4th by driving home the go-ahead run.
Matthews worked a scoreless 7th, keeping all suspense suppressed by retiring the side in order. In all, Josh tossed a complete game, walking two and striking out five, and allowing just the two unearned runs.
The Thunder’s playoffs hopes are still alive with two games remaining. They travel to last place Niagara Wednesday and to second place Allegany County on Thursday. The playoff picture should be clearer after tomorrow’s trip. Go Thunder!
Have questions or comments? Contact SID Kyler Ludlow at kylerludlow@me.com
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