SHERRILL –– The Cortland Crush got eight quality innings from starting pitcher Julian Salinas (Salve Regina University) and the Crush’ offense got hot late to beat the Sherrill Silversmiths 6-2 Sunday at Noyes Park. The Crush are now 10-16-1 on the season.
Salinas had everything working Sundays, tossing the most innings in a game he has all season and matched his season low in runs allowed. Salinas threw 95 pitches over eight innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and struck out six. Salinas surrended both runs to Sherrill in the bottom of the sixth after Alexander Dye reached on an error and Jack Byrnes hit a two-run home run.
Prior to the Silversmiths getting on the board, Cortland struck first in the top of the sixth. Zach Masnikoff (Oberlin College) began the inning with a single, followed by two quick outs from the Crush. Carson Molinaroli (Anderson University) then reached on an error and Masnikoff scored. Zach Young (Wells College) put the Crush up two the following at bat with an RBI double.
After scoring in the sixth inning, Cortland’s offense never looked back as it scored in two runs in the seventh and a run apiece in the eighth and ninth.
In the seventh, Joseph Manesiotis (Gardner-Webb University) and Nick Mahar (SUNY Brockport) began the inning with back-to-back singles. Jamison Howland (Assumption College) followed his teammates with an RBI single and Mahar, who reached third base on the hit, later scored on a wild push to make it 4-2.
Ryne McKinney (Capital University) led off the eighth with a walk, followed by singles from Molinaroli and Young to load the bases with no outs. Manesiotis then converted with runners on with an RBI single. Masnikoff did it on his own in the ninth with a leadoff solo home run to make it 6-2 in favor of the Crush.
Salinas responded with two shutouts innings after allowing Sherrill to get on the board. After he was pulled from the game, Angelo Agro (SUNY Brockport) threw a scoreless ninth inning and struck out two.
Masnikoff, Manesiotis and Young led the offensive charge, all contributing two hits and an RBI. Mahar added two hits, Howland had a hit and an RBI and Molinaroli had a hit.
The Crush do not play again until Wednesday at 6 p.m. at home at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex against the Syracuse Salt Cats. The short break in action is due to the New York Collegiate Baseball League going through its all-star game break. The game between the east and west divisions took place Monday, with the west winning 4-2. Joe Derienzo (Salve Regina University), Carlos Rodriguez (Lyndon State College), Harry Tavella (Salve Regina University), Molinaroli and Mahar all represented the Crush in the contest.
