WATERTOWN, NY- The Watertown Rams (16-11) came back from an eighth inning deficit to beat the Utica Brewers, 6-4, (3-23) and maintain a share of first place in the PGCBL West Division. Jake Sale (Parkland) picked up the win for the Rams, while Josh Garran (Pace) took the loss.

The Rams struck first in the game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Joe Ogren (Bucknell) hit an RBI single up the middle for the first run and Chris Gaetano (Monmouth) hit an RBI ground-rule double to right-center field to score Ogren. Utica responded with a lone run in the top of the second inning when Cedric Mullins (Louisburg) walked with the bases loaded.

It was all zeros until the top of the sixth inning when Utica scored on a throwing error by Rams catcher Joe Deluca (Niagara County CC). Chris Gaetano broke the tie when he led off the bottom of the sixth with a towering home run to right field. It was his first long ball of the season.

The game seemed to be in the hands of the Rams, as they handed the ball to Jake Sale with a lead, but in the top of the eighth innings, Cedric Mullins hit a two-out infield single. He advanced to third on a throwing error by Rams shortstop Nick Moore. Zacarias Hardy (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) then gave Utica a 4-3 lead with a 2-RBI single to center field, scoring Mullins and Cody Burton (UAH).

Watertown was able to take the lead back in the home half of the inning. Josh Hassell (Holy Cross) walked with the bases loaded to tie the game and Gaetano scored from third on a throwing error from Utica catcher Xavier Baez (Texas Wesleyan). Shane Servoss (Skagit Valley) had an RBI fielder’s choice to extend the lead to 6-4. Jon Escobar (Holy Cross) tossed a scoreless ninth inning to notch his sixth save of the season.

Rams starter Zander Clouse (Bellevue) went 5.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) in his no-decision. Utica starter Marcos Martinez (Citrus) had a quality start, going six innings and allowing three runs (all earned).

Shane Servoss and Chris Gaetano each had multi-hit games for the Rams. Jabari Gayle (Northwest Florida State) went 3-for-5 and Mullins and Burton each had multiple hits on the night.

Watertown travels to Adirondack tomorrow night to take on the Trail Blazers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Utica will play the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs in Little Falls on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.