JOHNSTOWN – The FM Raiders and Hudson Valley Vikings split their two-game slugfest on windy Saturday afternoon. FM won the first game 13-11, and HVCC took the second contest 8-4.
Photo: Greg Ruddy scores the first run of the day
Game One
The Raiders jumped out to a big lead, but the visiting Vikings fought back and nearly caught up with the hosts. FM's batters stroked five hits, including doubles by Gregory Ruddy and Andrew Houser, and scored eight runs in the first two innings. The FM onslaught included a well-stroked RBI single by Gregory Mosetti. (See photo at the bottom of this page.)
Starter Dennis Buckley was pitching well for the Raiders. It was looking as if FM was headed for a five inning run-rule victory, but the Viking bats came to life and Buckley lost some of his sharpness in the fifth. FM had 11 runs, but the visitors now had seven of their own.
Photo: Andrew Houser heads for home and Dennis Buckley advances to third on Kristjan Maksuti's single to left
Buckley left the mound, but kept his place in the batting order. Michael Gravel stepped onto the hill for the Raiders. The inning ended when FM catcher Houser gunned down a Viking runner who was attempting to steal second base.
Freshman William Hewitt took over the pitching duties with the bases full in the sixth inning. He induced a routine grounder to first baseman Shawn Strong, and the Viking threat ended.
Christopher Rockefeller beat out an infield hit in the home half of the sixth. Houser then brought Rockefeller home with a double to center. The Raiders had 13 runs.
The leading Game One hitters for FM were James Waters with a home run and a single. Ruddy and Houser both hit a double and a single. Mosetti and Rockefeller both hit three singles.
HVCC 011 052 2 11-13-2
FMCC 621 211 x 13-15-3
Lima, Hughes (2), Heleneck (4), Schmidt (5) and Bow; Buckley, Gravel (5), Hewitt (6) and Houser
Game Two
The Raiders took advantage of three walks paired with Greg Mosetti's single and smart base running to lead 3-1 after two innings. However, Hudson Valley pounded a double, a single, and a homer over the left field fence to take a 5-3 lead in the top half of the third.
Photo: Chris Rockefeller is safe at second
The visitors added another run in the fourth. James Holmes then took over the pitching duties for the Raiders. The Vikings scored two more runs in the final innings, and their pitcher, Franklin Miller, kept FM from scoring.
The top of the seventh inning ended with a memorable play. With two runners on base, catcher Matt Hecht threw behind the runner at first, putting the Viking in a rundown. The Raiders executed the play perfectly, finally nailing the lead runner at home. The play went 2-3-6-3-2.
HVCC won the game 8-4. The two teams are to finish the four-game series with a doubleheader on the Troy campus on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
HVCC 014 111 0 8-9-1
FMCC 030 100 0 4-6-2
Miller, Hall (7) and Bow; Maldonado, Holmes (4) and Hecht
Records: HVCC 8-8 (3-3 conference); FMCC 7-10 (3-1 conference)
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Photo: Greg Mosetti singles home James Waters in Game One
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