By Ian Nicholas
Box Score Photos
The final week of the regular season didn’t get off to a terrific start for the Mohawks (35-6-1) against the Dutchmen (19-22) on Monday night from Shuttleworth Park. For the first time this summer, Albany defeated Amsterdam by a score of 3-1 as 13-year Dutchmen head coach Nick Davey made his final regular season trip to Amsterdam. The Mohawks have dropped two of their last three games, with both losses coming at home.
All-star Aidan Kidd (NJIT) made his eighth start and uncharacteristically ran into issues early. In the top of the first, Caden Shapiro (Princeton) singled and advanced to second on an error from left-fielder Josh Overbeek (Pittsburgh). Then, Austin Bode (Louisville) ripped one to right that scored Shapiro and gave the Dutchmen the 1-0 lead. Albany loaded the bases with two outs but couldn’t add on to the advantage as a Danny Rodgers (Central Connecticut State) groundout ended the frame. Kidd kept the Dutchmen off the board in both the second and third, but couldn’t prevent a leadoff home run from Matt Bergevin (Fairfield) in the fourth. The left-handed hurler was handed the loss and lasted 3.2 innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) off five hits and four walks, with three strikeouts.
After allowing seven runs in his most recent start, Albany’s Mike DiMartino (Fairleigh Dickinson) was dialed in against Amsterdam. The sophomore retired the first 14 Mohawks he faced, before a two-out single from Briggs Rutter (Middle Tennessee State) in the fifth ended his perfect game bid. In the top of the sixth, the Dutchmen increased the lead after a pair of Amsterdam errors. Bode led off and reached first on an E3 from Rutter. After stealing second, Bode took off for third after an infield single down the rightfield line from Rodgers. Bode took a large lead off third as he rounded the corner, and with the ball still on the ground, reliever Jack Slyvia (St. Lawrence) scooped it up and launched one to the hot corner. His throw missed third baseman Brett Coker (Middle Tennessee State) and let Bode touch home plate, making it 3-0 Albany.
DiMartino retired the side in the bottom of the sixth to end his night with six shutout frames and the win; giving up just one hit with three strikeouts and no walks. Connor O’Neill (Manhattan) took the mound for the Dutchmen in the seventh and kept the Mohawks at bay. But in the eighth, Amsterdam fought back, starting with a leadoff single from Rutter. Hunter Thomas (Arkansas State) and Cade Bush (Florida State) followed that up with back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out. Next, Michael O’Shaugnessy (Davidson) grounded out to first, which let Rutter come home for Amsterdam’s first (and only) score. With second and third and two outs, Mark Black (Gardiner-Webb) struck out to end the inning still trailing 3-1.
Amsterdam native Carson Cotugno (Wake Forest) provided a scoreless top of the ninth to keep it a two-run contest. In the bottom of the inning, Gage Miller (Bishop State CC) secured his second knock of the game with a leadoff single. After a pair of groundouts from Cam Love (Rutger) and Coker, Miller advanced to third. Zach Gardiner (Marshall) walked with two outs to put the tying run on first, but an O’Neill strikeout of Rutter put the icing on the cake.
The Mohawks and Dutchmen see each other one last time in the regular season on Wednesday from Keenholts Park. But before then, Amsterdam hosts Saugerties at 6:35 pm tonight. Make sure to watch the video broadcast on the Amsterdam Mohawks’ Facebook page through Facebook Live. Albany travels to Glens Falls for a 7:00 pm showdown.
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