Nitros Force Game Three
Paul Welker - 8/2/2008

The Allegany County Nitros held on in the 9th inning to defeat the Hornell Dodgers 6-5 in game two of the Western Division Semifinals to force a deciding game three on Sunday evening.  The Nitros standed the tying run on second base when the final out was recorded.

Hornell took the lead in the 3rd inning on a RBI double Andrew Jesee (St. Joseph's) that plated Brett Lancaster (SIU-Edwardsville).

The Nitros bounced back and scored two runs in the 3rd, two in the 4th, and added two big insurance runs in the 8th inning.

Trailing 6-1 heading into the 9th, Trey Bennett (Mercyhurst) got the Dodgers rally started by beating out an infield single.  Abe Steinbach (Emporia State) walked followed by an RBI single by Lancaster.  After a walk to Jesse, Jose Sanchez (Delaware State) drove home two with an RBI single.  With runners on first and second, the Nitros turned a crucial double play that looked like it would kill the rally.  Adam Eggemeyer (SIU-Edwardsville) was hit by a pitch to pu the tying run on base.  After a wild pitch scored Jesse and moved Eggemyer to second, the Pete Quintos won a fierce battle with Adam Gray (Mercyhurst) to end the contest.

Bennett finished the day 2 for 2 on the day and is now 7 for 7 in the series and has reached base in all nine at bats.  Sanchez was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and Lancaster was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Alexander Raetzloff led the Nitros with a 3 for 4, 3 RBI day while Scott McNee was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Ken Long allowed one earned run in five innings of work to earn the win while Nick Vallillo tossed three innings of one hit relief.

Adam Schrader (SW Minnesota State) allowed three earned runs in six innings of work for the Dodgers.  He walked five and struck out five.

Game three of the series will be at Maple City Park with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.

In other NYCBL division semifinal action, Brockport defeated Geneva 6-1 to advance to the Western Division Finals while in the East, Gelns Falls defeated Watertown 7-4 in 11 innings to advance to the Eastern Finals.  Little Falls and Amsterdam was rained out.