The Albany Dutchmen (14-17) were defeated by the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs (10-21) at Bob Bellizzi Field on Sunday night by a score of 8-3. After eight runs combined in the first four innings, the two Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League East Division rivals matched zeros until the ninth inning.

Allowing only a single earned run in his last 13 innings, PGCBL Pitcher of the Week Steven Poche (Southeastern Louisiana) was touched for three runs by the DiamondDawgs in the first. Dave Soltis (Bryant) highlighted the scoring with a two-run double. 

Albany got one back in second after a DiamondDawg fielding error brought home Garren Palmer (Georgia Southern) who singled to start the inning. The gap was then extended once again when DJ Hoagboon (Wheaton) took the Mohawk Valley lead to four after a two-run RBI single in the top the third.

Down 5-1, the Dutchmen began to slowly chip at the lead in the fourth inning. Matt Wehrli (Yavapai) and Joey Boney (Cypress) hit an RBI double and single respectively to close the gap to 5-3.

Dustin Stanton (Southern Maine) and relief combined to blank the Dutchmen through the rest of the contest. The Mohawk Valley starter, who is now 2-5, went eight innings and recorded the win. Poche and Dutchmen relievers also kept the DiamondDawgs off the board in the fourth through eighth inning. Mohawk Valley added their final three insurance runs in the ninth. Ryan Van Amburg (Pepperdine) hit a leadoff triple for the Dutchmen in the ninith but was left stranded to end the game.

Poche went five innings, allowing five runs (one unearned) and fanning four. Tanner Barron (Trinity) looked strong in relief. He went 2.2 innings allowing no runs and striking out three. Soltis lead Mohawk Valley with three hits and three RBIs. Palmer had a nice at the plate for the Dutchmen going 2-4 with two runs scored.

The PGCBL has the day off tomorrow with the league’s first-ever all-star game being held in Elmira. The Dutchmen will host the Newark Pilots on Tuesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. For all Dutchmen information visit www.dutchmenbaseball.com or follow us @DutchmenPGCBL.