Cam Austin pitched a 5.1-inning gem for Bradford, but St. Marys’ pitchers were slightly better, as Alex Vollmer and Christian Coudriet combined to shut down the Bradford baseball team’s offense and preserve a lead.
After reclaiming the lead in the 4th, the Flying Dutchmen wouldn’t let it go, as Vollmer earned the win and Coudriet got the save in a 3-2 St. Marys victory at Pitt-Bradford. The Dutch were aided by an Owl error in the 4th, and from there, let their pitchers and defense take over.
“We really didn’t have much of a threat after that,” Bradford coach Eric Haynoski said. “(Coudriet) seemed to have a little more speed on his fastball, and we couldn’t string anything together.”
Bradford’s lone two runs came on the bottom of the 3rd, when Ryan Ward singled home Elijah Fitton and Austin later scored on a wild pitch. Austin allowed seven hits in 5.1 innings, allowing one earned run along the way.
Nolan Roulo relieved Austin in the 6th and kept St. Marys’ lead at one run. Coudriet forced two strikouts and a fly out in the 7th, however, to stop the Owls short of their first District 9 League victory.
““(Austin) did a great job keeping the ball low and forcing them to put it in play,” Haynoski said. “Our defense did a good job and kept us in the game the whole way, we just couldn’t come up with the timely hits when we needed them.”
Carter Price had three hits for St. Marys, while Conner Straub added two hits and Tony Lewis drove in a run. Coudriet was perfect in his two innings of relief, striking out three.
Bradford will host DuBois Thursday in search of its first conference victory. The Owls are 4-9 overall.
“It’s encouraging to see us compete in games again, but it’s time to turn the corner and start getting wins,” Haynoski said.
AT BRADFORD R H E
St. Marys:
Bradford:
NORTHERN ALLEGHENY
Port Allegany 7,
Otto-Eldred 3
PORT ALLEGANY — Max Splain did his best to keep Port Allegany’s offense at bay.
Otto-Eldred led through three-plus innings, but Port’s bats awakened late, as three hits and a three-inning save by Sawyer Prince fueled a Gator victory. Earning its seventh league victory of the season, Port moved itself a step closer to Saturday’s showdown with Smethport.
O-E took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd on RBI hits from Manning Splain and Max Splain. The Terrors managed four hits in four innings against Port starter Drew Evens, who struck out six before Prince entered a one-run ball game in the 5th.
Port got three runs back in the 4th, as Prince doubled to center, scoring Noah Archer. Blaine Moses doubled to bring Prince around, then Payton Spencer drove in a third tally with a single.
Lead in hand, Prince struck out five batters over the next three frames, allowing one hit and no walks. The one run he allowed was unearned.
Prince padded his lead in the 5th when another double scored Evens. Moses added an RBI single soon after, giving the Gators a cushion as they pursued a final six outs.
Wednesday marked Port’s second win of the season over the Terrors, as the Gators also claimed a 3-1 decision in Eldred early in the season.
R H E
O-E:
Port:
Smethport 7, Galeton 4
SMETHPORT — Smethport survived a Northern Allegheny Leauge scare, as the conference-leading Hubbers evaded a four-run 3rd inning by Galeton and wrapped up a victory.
Smethport’s bats finally came alive late, as Travis Cooney’s RBI double in the 5th brought the Hubs within a run after they had scored two runs on a Tiger error. Smethport added three runs in the 5th, while Alex Ognen shut down the Galeton offense and earned a three-inning save.
Cooney had two hits for the Hubbers, while Alex Cole had two hits and two RBI and Noah Lent drove in a pair of runs.
R H E
Galeton:
Smethport: Brenton McDowell (8 SO, 2 BB), Alex Ognen (5) (6 SO, 2 BB) and Travis Cooney
