SAUGERTIES, N.Y. - The Saugerties Stallions' offense was not there on Friday night, as they lost to the Albany Dutchmen by a final score of 8-0 at Cantine Field.

Entering Friday's game, the Stallions' magic number to clinch the fourth and final playoff spot in the East division of the PGCBL was 1.5. In order to clinch, the Stallions needed a win and a loss by the Utica Blue Sox against the Jamestown Jammers. Since neither of those happened, Saugerties still needs at least one win and one more Utica loss to secure the fourth seed with three games to play in the regular season.

In the top of the second inning, Nick Estrella (Azusa Pacific) led off the inning by drawing a walk. Chase Allen (Limestone) then hit a two run homerun to give the Dutchmen an early 2-0 lead.

The Dutchmen were also able to add a couple of runs to the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning. Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican) and Estrella led off the inning by both hitting singles. Adam Elliot (Louisville) was able to score Childers to boost the Dutchmen’s lead to 3-0. Estrella was able to score after Colin Kaucher (Ohio Dominican) was walked and the ball ended up at the backstop behind home plate. That run gave the Dutchmen a 4-0 lead.

The Stallions looked like they were ready to have a big inning when Clay Simmons (Marshall) led off  the bottom of the fifth inning with a double that he ripped to the right field wall. Unfortunately for the Stallions, the next three batters were retired in order.

In the top of the eight inning, Nick Gallo (Oklahoma State) led off the inning with a single. He was then able to steal second base. Trace Tyre (Ole Miss) was then able to reach base after the Stallions second baseman, Matt Forlow (Manhattan). Estrella then smoked the ball to right field for a two RBI single and the Dutchmen took a 6-0 lead. With Adam Elliot at the plate and Estrella on third base, there was a past ball thrown by the Stallions which allowed Estrella to score easily to give the Dutchmen a 7-0 lead. Then with runners on first and second base, Griffen Herrera (Azusa Pacific) hit an RBI double. That hit gave the Dutchmen an 8-0 lead.

The winning pitcher tonight is the Dutchmen’s Jack Grabek (Bucknell). Grabek (Bucknell) pitched a gem tonight for the Dutchmen. During his seven innings of work he only allowed two hits. He also struck out seven batters. The losing pitcher tonight is the Stallion’s Joe Nellis (St.John’s).

After this loss, the Stallions record drops to 19-26. They still hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the East division of the PGCBL over the Utica Blue Sox.

The Stallions next game is tomorrow, July 29, as the Stallions travel to Oneonta to take on the Outlaws in a doubleheader. The games will be played at Damaschke Field. The first game will start at 5:00 PM and the second game will start at 7:05 PM.