Americans Fall 3-5 In Tight Game Against Elmira

        ELMIRA, NY - The Niagara Falls Americans traveled to Elmira to face their CAN-USA rivals, the Pioneers. In a contest that saw both teams answering each other’s runs, the Pioneers pulled ahead, winning by a score of 5-3. This loss drops the Americans to 7-3, while the Pioneers reach .500, earning a 4-4 record.

        In a seven hit performance for Niagara Falls, Grant Moore, Connor Kiefer, and Derek Gesmondi were key players.  Moore went 2-of-3 with 2 RBIs and a walk. Kiefer batted 1-of-3 and tallied the RBI on the other Americans’ run, as well as stealing a base. Gesmondi walked twice in his four plate appearances, scoring one run and stealing one base.

        CJ Hurley was the first of three pitchers for the Americans. Hurley, the losing pitcher, pitched the first 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, and striking out three. Hudson Boring pitched the full 6th inning, allowing one unearned run on one hit and striking out one. Austin Barton pitched the final 2.0 innings, walking four walks and one run, striking out two.

        Elmira’s batting output was led by TJ Gramesty, Brendan Hammer, and Anthony Manganello. Gramesty batted 2-of-3, achieving one RBI and one walk. Hammer tallied two hits in four at bats and drove in one RBI. Manganello had one RBI single and one walk across his four plate appearances.

        Michael Geissler was the first Pioneer on the mound, pitching the first 5.0 innings and earning his first win of the season. Geissler allowed two runs, only one earned, allowed five hits, and struck out five in his time on the rubber. Bryce Mashanic entered in relief and pitched the next 2.0 innings. Mashanic allowed one run and struck out one. Nolan Terwilliger pitched the final 2.0 innings and earned his second save of the season. Terwilliger hit his first batter faced with a pitch, but recorded an out on his next six faced, three of them by strikeout.

        In a tight game, Niagara Falls struck first in the top of the 3rd inning. After singles by the first two batters, a double play put Allen Ramos on second with two outs. Grant Moore stepped into the box and hit a single down the left field line that scored Ramos. A strikeout ended the inning with just one run scored.

        In the bottom of the 3rd, Elmira counterpunched by scoring a run of their own to tie the game. A hit by pitch and walk on the second and fourth batters respectively, put runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs. A single by Anthony Manganello scored Dylan Fatovich, tying the game. A groundout by the next better ended the inning tied 1-1.

        The top of the 5th saw the Americans take another lead. A throwing error by the second baseman allowed Ramos to reach first before he advanced to second on a balk. Two batters later, Moore hit a single to left field that scored Ramos, Moore’s second RBI of the night. Same as the 3rd inning, a strikeout by the next batter ended the inning.

        As Elmira did in the 3rd, they quickly responded by scoring in the bottom of the inning. After singles by the first two batters and then a fielder’s choice, the Pioneers had runners on the corners with one out. A TJ Gramesty single through the left side drove in Brooks Hicken, tying the game. After a strikeout to earn the second out of the inning, Gramesty stole second base. While attempting to throw him out at 2nd, Fatovich ran home, scoring the go ahead run for Elmira. The next batter struck out to end the inning with the Pioneers up 3-2. 

        In the bottom of the 6th, Elmira extended their lead, scoring the eventual game-winning run. After a leadoff single, followed by a fielder’s choice paired with an error, runners were on 1st and 2nd with no outs. A strikeout by the next batter put the first out on the board before a fielding error by the shortstop allowed Aidan Grabowski to reach 1st and allowed Fatovich to score. The next two batters recorded outs, ending the 6th with Elmira up 4-2.

        The Americans looked to work their way back into the game in the 7th inning. A leadoff walk by Derek Gesmondi started the inning for Niagara Falls. Gesmondi stole 2nd on the strikeout pitch of the next batter, and then advanced to 3rd on a groundout. Connor Kiefer took advantage of the situation by hitting an RBI single to left center that scored Gesmondi. Despite a stolen base by Kiefer, followed by a walk, the inning ended with Niagara Falls scoring just one run.

        Hudson Boring entered to start the bottom of the 7th inning for the Americans. After a groundout by the leadoff batter, walks allowed the next two batters to reach base. A double steal attempt put Gramesty on 3rd, but John Simmons would be caught stealing at second. A walk by the next batter, Mangello, put runners on the corners with two outs. A Brendan Hammer single to left field drove in Gramesty, scoring the 5th Elmira run, and final run of the game.

Links
PGCBL Box Score
Game Livestream

        The Americans will have a day off before traveling to Newark on June 17th to face off with the Pilots in a game scheduled for 6:30pm. Catch the next Americans home game the day after, June 18th, when we host the Jamestown Tarp Skunks to start a home and home series, scheduled to start at 6:30pm. It is $1 Hotdog Night! Come on down to Sal Maglie Stadium and enjoy a hot dog, or a few, watching the Americans play America’s favorite pastime. To purchase single-game or season tickets, call 716-215-6161 or visit niagarafallsamericans.com for more information. Season tickets start as low as $99! If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the Americans, or organizing a group outing to an Americans game, please contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.