OLEAN, NY — Clutch is a word the Salamanca Lizards have become very familiar with as of late.
In its game on June 28, Salamanca scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to rescue a tie against the Hornell Steamers. On June 29, it piled up five runs in the bottom of the eighth frame to secure a comeback win over the Horseheads Hitmen.
And on July 1, late dramatics were needed again as it pulled out a 5-4, 10-inning win over the Olean Oilers.
Knotted up through seven and a half innings of play, and with neither having scored for three innings prior to a flurry of late runs, the Lizards and Oilers were nearly inseparable. Salamanca opened the scoring with an RBI single from Hunter White (1-for-4) that scored Frank Kula (1-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) in the top of the first. Olean responded with a run from Bryce Neely (2-for-5, home run) and Brian Fleming (3-for-3, walk) in the bottom of the first and second, respectively, to take its first lead of the affair.
The Lizards jumped back in front with two runs in the fourth courtesy of Harley Hoag (1-for-4, run, walk) and Kula. A wild pitch scored Fleming as Olean immediately found a way to even up the scores yet again.
It was in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Oilers made their move, breaking the deadlock with an RBI single from JT Smith (2-for-5, 2 RBI) which brought Chase Fischer (2-for-5, run) across home plate. And in following the trend of the game, it was now the Lizards’ turn to conjure up a response. A run from Timothy Johnson (0-for-1, run), brought in by Connor Smith (4-for-6, 2 RBI) provided just that.
So, with nine innings of baseball not enough to split the sides, an extra inning was needed. And for the first time since the early stages of the game, it was the Lizards that forced the Oilers into coming up with an answer.
After stepping into the affair as a pinch runner, Parker Drees found himself embodying what would be Salamanca’s go-ahead run in the top of the 10th. Just 90 feet away from home plate and with the bases loaded behind him, Drees saw a window of opportunity open as a passed ball got away from Olean’s catcher, rolling all the way to the backstop. With two outs on the board, Drees risked it all. Taking off, he was able to score standing up, giving the Lizards a one-run advantage.
Switching sides, Thomas Bates had the final chance for Olean. With runners on first and second, Bates grounded out to Salamanca’s closer Bryce Jackson, solidifying the Lizards’ victory.
Salamanca has now gone unbeaten in three straight games for the first time this season and moved its record to 6-9-3 with the win. Returning home on July 2, the Lizards will face off against the Sherrill Silversmiths at 4 p.m. as they look to push that trend to four games.
As for the Oilers, they will hit the road for a doubleheader against the Watertown Rapids on July 2 with the first game set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
