Auburn, N.Y.- Ben Pelletier capped a three-hit night with a two-run home run, but the Crosscutters fell 11-6 to the Doubledays in the middle game of the set.
Edwin Rodriguez got the scoring started in the top of the 1st inning, scoring Rafael Marchan with a two-out single to give the Cutters a 1-0 lead. It was the second-straight night that the Cutters took a 1st inning lead.
Ethan Lindow was rudely welcomed by Auburn, as Cody Wilson tripled to right-center on the first pitch of the bottom half of the 1st and was scored by the next batter, Moises Sierra on a RBI ground out, tying the game 1-1.
Brayan Gonzalez gave the Crosscutters the lead back in the top of the 4th inning, belting a two-run double to right, scoringBen Pelletier and Jake Holmes to make it 3-1 Williamsport, on the 21st and 22nd RBI of the year for Gonzalez.
Auburn got to Lindow in the bottom of the 4th inning, scoring three runs to retake the lead at 4-3 and then added another run against Lindow in the bottom of the 5th inning, upping their advantage to 5-3.
Lindow was lifted from the ball game after the 5th inning, allowing a season-high 5 runs, 4 earned, on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 batters in the losing effort.
The Doubledays were able to get to Abdallah Aris in the bottom of the 7th inning, scoring two more runs to make it 7-3. Aris worked two innings, allowing the 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk while striking out a batter.
Brayan Gonzalez helped the Cutters chip away at the deficit in the top of the 8th inning, plating Pelletier with a two-out single to center, cutting the Auburn lead to 7-4 on Gonzalez’s 23rd RBI of the season.
Oscar Marcelino, who had been strong in his last two outings, was roughed up in the bottom of the 8th inning, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2 batters. With the four runs, the Doubledays advanced their lead to 11-4.
Ben Pelletier did not want the Cutters to go down quietly in the top of the 9th, drilling a prestigious two-run home run to left field, scoring Jesus Henriquez to cut the deficit to 11-6. It was the 5th home run and RBI 26 and 27 for Pelletier this year.
The Cutters rally would end one batter later, as the Cutters dropped the middle game of the series to the Doubledays.
The Crosscutters conclude their series against the Auburn Doubledays tomorrow evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Falcon Park.
Cutter Carvings – Ben Pelletier’s three-hit night was his 4th of the season and was the third-straight game for the Cutters with at least one batter recording a three-hit night… The Crosscutters have hit five home runs in the month of August… The season series between the Crosscutters and Doubledays is tied 4-4…
