Hornell scored five runs in the 8th to rally to defeat Dansville 9-6 on Sunday afternoon. The Steamers are now 13-12 on the season and winners of four straight.
Dansville scored three runs in the 1st inning to grab the early lead. Torrey Roper (Indiana U of PA) doubled to lead off the 2nd and scored on a wild pitch. Devin Mersmann (Alfred State) made it 3-2 three batters later when he singled home Connor Kiefer (Monroe CC). Kiefer had doubled.
Jordyn Smith (Oklahoma Wesleyan) hit a solo homer in the 4th to tie the game up.
The game remained 3-3 until the 7th when Alfred Hoti hit a RBI single and Nicholas Scanlon hit a sac fly.
In the top of the 8th, Peyton Johnson (Indiana U of PA) hit a one-out single and Colton Burd (Indiana U of PA) tied it up two pitches later when he hit a long two-run homer into the trees in right field. The homer was his 4th of the summer and third in the last two games.
With two outs, Smith was hit by a pitch and Jack Loftus (Western New England) grounded to third. Originally Loftus was called out but after an appeal, it was ruled the first baseman didn’t have his foot on the base keeping the inning going. Kiefer followed with a RBI single and Mersmann made it 8-5 with a two-RBI double.
Johnny Briody hit a RBI ground out in the 8th to make it 8-6 but Brody Burdett (Alfred State) got the final two outs of the inning to end the threat.
Johnson hit a solo homer in the 9th to make it 9-6 and Burdett retired the Gliders in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
Mersmann was 3 for 4 on the day with 3 RBI to lead the 13-hit attack. Smith was 2 for 3 with a solo homer, Kiefer was 2 for 4 with a RBI, Johnson was 2 for 5 with a solo homer, and Burd’s only hit of the day was his 4th homer of the season.
Joe Dolansky (Indiana U of PA) settled down after the 1st and pitched six solid innings. He allowed four hits and three earned runs while walking six and striking out five. Burdett earned the save by getting the final five outs.
Hornell has the 4th of July off and returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to Olean for a 7 p.m. contest with the Oilers.
