Filed by the Watertown Rams...
WATERTOWN, N.Y. - Samm Wiggins (Houston Baptist) hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to propel the Newark Pilots (18-24) to a 3-2 victory over the Watertown Rams (25-18) on Friday night at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.
Newark flew out to a 1-0 lead before Watertown had a chance to bat. Jeff Edwards (Valparaiso) led off the top of the first with a single and quickly stole second base. Edwards advanced to third on a ground out and came across to score on a wild pitch by Rams starter Anthony Magovney (Buffalo). Watertown answered with a run of its own in the home half of the inning. Joe Moroney (Kansas) led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a fielding error by Pilot left fielder Josh Ludwig (Rochester). Moroney came across the score on a Dominic Lopez (Texas A&M - Corpus Christi) fielders' choice.
The game remained tied, 1-1, until the fifth inning. Watertown's Bobby Indeglia (Holy Cross) led off the home half of the fifth with a single and he advanced to second on a passed ball. Joe Moroney pushed Indeglia to third with a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Dominic Lopez drove in a fly ball into center field that was caught but deep enough to score Indeglia with the go-ahead run for the Rams. Watertown led 2-1 until the top of the eighth inning when Newark took the lead for good. Logan Grant (Creighton) relieved Ryan Smith (St. John Fisher) and retired the first two batters he faced. The Pilots flew into the lead with a brief two-out rally. Max Rosing (Cortland State) smacked a two-out single and Samm Wiggins followed with a two-run home run, his third of the season, to give Newark a 3-2 lead.
Watertown starter Anthony Magovney hurled six innings allowing one earned run in a no decision. Magovney struck out four while giving up five hits. Cody Culp (Bellevue) and Ryan Smith both tossed one scoreless inning in relief for coach Paul Alteri. Newark starter Andrew Sanders (Ithaca) pitched seven innings and did not allow an earned run. He conceded two unearned runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out two to improve to 4-0. Justin D'Amato (St. John Fisher) twirled a scoreless eighth and Donald Frew (Young Harris) secured the Pilot win in the ninth with his ninth save.
Joe Moroney finished 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored to pace the Rams. Tyler Decker (JCC) also delivered a perfect night at the dish, going 2-for-2. Dominic Lopez drove in both Watertown runs.
Jeff Edwards (Valparaiso) and Steve Laurino (Marist) each delivered two hits for the Pilots..
Watertown travels to Utica on Saturday night to face the Brewers with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. Newark will play host to the Elmira Pioneers with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM.