CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, April 20, 2023
The Hudson Valley Community College baseball program went on the road and earned a pair of wins against Jefferson Community College on Thursday afternoon in Watertown, NY.
GAME ONE: Hudson Valley 7, Jefferson 1 (Final)
Hudson Valley wasted no time as they walked off the bus and instantly put four runs on the board in the top of the first inning and never looked back. The Vikings managed to add one more run in the second, fifth and seventh inning to close out the Cannoneers in the opening game.
In the big first inning, the Vikings started the game with back-to-back leadoff walks. Following a ground out by Mike Talavera to advance Tj Strevell and Josh Foglia, Juan Abreu drove in the game's first run with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field. The Vikings then scored three more runs with two outs in the inning. Abreu finished the game 2-for-3 at the palte with one run scored and two RBIs.
Jaden Ross singled to center field, which allowed Foglia to score and the next batter, Colin Lynch connected for a bases-clearing triple to center field, to close out the four-run inning. Lynch finished the game 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Ethan Thompson took to the mound with a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first and he appeared to be as comfortable on the mound as he has all season. Thompson tossed a complete game and gave up one run on two hits and struck out 10 batters. Thompson only needed 85 pitches and faced 27 batters.
Leading the way for the Vikings offense was Talavera, Abreu and Ross. The trio all collected two hits in the game and seven different individuals scored a run.
GAME TWO: Hudson Valley 13, Jefferson 5 (Final)
The Vikings offense really exploded in the second game as they tallied 17 hits and scored 13 runs. The Vikings jumped out to a big 10-2 lead after the second inning and kept Jefferson at bay for the rest of the game.
The six-run second inning was highlighted by singles by Josh Foglia, Colin Lynch, a bases-clearing triple by Bryaden Mann and ended with a double by Jaden Ross. Ross has had a hot bat of late as he has collected nine hits in 14 at-bats (.642) over the last four games. Ross finished the second game 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs.
Six Vikings collected at least two hits or more in the game with Foglia and Ross collecting three hits. Tj Strevell finished with two hits, including a triple in the seventh inning. Connor Waiting and Brayden Mann also collected a three-bag base hit to help carry the Vikings to victory.
On the mound, the Vikings utilized a collection of arms, beginning with Jayden Hughes, who earned the win after tossing three innings and gave up two runs on zero hits. Chance Herrington, Richie Tamsett and Cole Flannery closed the final four innings of the game and they combined to give up three runs on six hits.
ON DECK:
The Vikings have now won four games in a row and improved to 14-14 on the season as they enter the weekend to close out the season series with Jefferson on Saturday, April 22 at Joe Bruno Stadium. The Region 3 doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.