JCC Battles All Day Long against SUNY Adirondack

Jefferson Baseball traveled through the Adirondack region to tough it out all day long against SUNY Adirondack in Glenn Falls, NY this weekend. It was Jefferson's first day of games where the weather was favorable and above the 50-degree mark at first pitch. 

JCC struggled throughout game one at the plate early on, with having only 2 batters reach base in the first two innings via walks. But in the top of the 3^rd inning with one out, Hunter Holliday was able to break up the opposing teams no hitter by reaching base on a single up the middle, and then Nicholas Lavin followed Holliday by hitting a single up the middle as well. But that was as far as the Cannoneers would get that inning. William Magovney took the mound for Jefferson in game one and was completely dominant early on, striking out 5 batters through the first two innings. In the bottom of the 3^rd inning, Adirondack was able to break the 0-0 tie and get two runs across off of one error and two base hits. Naim Bibovic led off the top of the 4^th inning for Jefferson with a single, and then Jason Kavanaugh reaches on a fielder's choice and then stole second base to get Jefferson in scoring position for the second straight inning. Again though, Adirondack was able to keep the Cannoneers from crossing home plate to keep a 2-0 lead going into bottom of the 4^th.  The Timberwolves  were able to get runners on base again in the bottom of the 4^th, runners reaching on an error, a couple hits and also walks. Adirondack worked runners around the bases to get three more runs up to extend their lead to 5-0. The top of the 5^th inning was very quick for JCC at the plate; Hunter Holliday reaches with another single and only 1 out. Nicholas Lavin then hits a hard ground ball toward the middle of the infield but Adirondack was able to snag it and turn a quick double play to end the inning. William Magovney continued to pitch strong and limit the damage on the mound, he was able to retire SUNY Adirondack in order for the 5^th and 6^th inning. He finished his day with 100 pitches total, striking out 6 batters, allowing 5 hits, 4 walks, and only 1 earned run. Going into the top of the 7^th inning, Jefferson trailed 5-0 and with the flow of the whole game, it wasn't looking like there was any chance for them. Jason Kavanaugh led off with a walk, and then Zachary Scannell ropes a double to the left center gap. Tim Gaudioso comes up to bat with runners on 2^nd and 3^rd base, and smashes a no doubter 3-run home run over the left field wall, now JCC only trails 3-5 and still no outs in the inning. Wilber Guzman works a full count walk to bring Hunter Holliday up as the tying run. Holliday flies out to center field, and then Lavin pops up to the catcher. With two outs and the tying run up to bat still, Joshua Navarra hits a double to deep center field to bring Guzman around, now JCC only trails by one run. But that was as close as it would get, as Adirondack was able to record the 3^rd and final out of the 7^th inning to end the game with a 5-4 score in their favor.

In between the finish of game one and the start of game two, Jefferson had the opportunity to salvage their day and hit the reset button for game two. It was time to flush out game one frustration and miscues, and learn from them.

Jefferson wasted no time, picking up right where they left off in game one. Hunter Holliday continued to swing the hot bat and led off with a single. Joshua Navarra then hits a single, and is able to advance to second base of an error by the center fielder, moving Holliday to 3^rd base. Holliday then crosses home plate off a wild pitch from the opposing pitcher and Navarra moves of to 3^rd base. Jefferson comes out of the inning with a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 1^st. Benjamin Wilcox took the bump for the Cannoneers in game two and had solid command during his outing. SUNY Adirondack was able to get that run back in the bottom of the 1^st inning off of one walk and a double. The 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th innings all went very quick for both sides and neither team was able to break through. With a 1-1 tie going into the 5^th inning, Jefferson was finally able to break through. Wilber Guzman and Hunter Holliday both were sat down via fly balls, but with two outs in the inning, Nicholas Lavin got Jefferson going by reaching base on a single, Joshua Navarra followed with his second single of the game. With runners on 1^st and 2^nd base, William Sanborn comes through and hits a single to score Lavin to take 2-1 lead. Naim Bibovic then follows his teammates and hits a single as well, scoring Navarra to build up a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the 5^th inning, Benjamin Wilcox really had to push through for his team. Wilcox hits the first batter of the inning, and allows a base hit to the next man. With no outs and the tying runs on base, Wilcox gets the next batter hit a ground ball right back to him, and flips it over to 1^st base to record out number one. Now runners are on 2^nd and 3^rd with the top of the order up for ACC. Wilcox dialed in and got the next two batters to strike out, leaving Adirondack in the 5^th inning with no runs and holding the 3-1 lead going into the 6^th inning. The 6^th inning was quiet for both teams, as neither were able to get base runners into scoring positions and no runs across. With a 3-1 lead going into the top of the 7^th, Jefferson added on to their lead. Nicholas Lavin led off with a walk, but then Navarra and Sanborn flew out. Naim Bibovic rips a double to deep center field, bringing Lavin around to score. Jason Kavanaugh gets a single that brought Bibovic in, to extend JCC lead to 5-1.           

Wilcox comes back out for the bottom of the 7^th inning for Jefferson, pitching with a 5-1 lead. Wilcox strikes out the 1^st batter of the inning, now 1 out. Second batter of the inning reaches on a single, with 1 out and a runner on first base, Wilcox gets the next batter to pop up to him, now 2 outs. With two outs, it was still far from over. A pinch hitter for ACC is able to reach base on a walk, and the lead off hitter comes up for them and reaches base on a single. Now bases are loaded for the heart of their order. Next man up for ACC hits a single and scores two runs, JCC still leads 5-3. Wilcox struggled with the following two batters, walking both, and bringing a run in with bases load, to cut our lead down to 1 run. After throwing 114 pitches in 6 and 2/3 innings, striking out 9 batters, allowing 6 hits, 4 walks and 4 earned runs, Wilcox day was done. Dakota Deasy comes in for relief, with bases loaded and the winning run on 2^nd base for Adirondack, Deasy made it look easy. Deasy gets strike one across on his first pitch, and on his second pitch, he gets ACC to hit a fly ball out to Joshua Navarra in right field, recording the 3^rd and final out of the game. Dakota Deasy earned his first colligate save. Jefferson escapes game two with a 5-4 win.

Jefferson baseball splits their double header on the road, and moves to 4-2 in conference play. They look to continue their quest for post season play this up coming week with two sets of four game series against nationally ranked 10^th Herkimer College, two games on 4/24 at home and then two games on 4/26 at Herkimer College. Then a weekend series against Mohawk Valley Community College with two games at home on 4/28 and then two more games on the road at Mohawk Valley Community College on 4/29.