Americans Fall to Auburn, Lose Season Series in Sunday Rubber Match

AUBURN, N.Y. — After taking a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Niagara Falls

Americans surrendered seven unanswered runs, falling 7-4 to the Auburn Doubledays on Sunday

at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park.

Following two scoreless innings, the Americans struck first in the top of the third when Justin

Gladfelter ripped a double down the right-field line, scoring David Harris.

Michael Sabella led off the top of the fifth with a single. After the first out of the inning, David

Harris reached on an error. Two batters later, with runners on first and second and two outs,

Dominick Zangardi crushed a three-run home run to right-center field, extending the Americans’

lead to 4-0. It was Zangardi’s third homer of the season, tying him for the lead in the Perfect

Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) West Division.

In the bottom of the frame, seven of the first eight Auburn batter reached safely as the

Doubledays scored five runs on four hits.

Americans starter Aiden Mroz was pulled from the game with one out and runners at second and

third. Mroz pitched four and one-third innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits,

with five walks and four strikeouts. The start was Mroz’s team-high sixth of the season.

Jackson Learner entered in relief for Mroz and retired the next two batters in the inning, keeping

the Doubledays’ lead at one.

In the top of the eighth, Justin Gladfelter singled and stole second on the same pitch that

Dominick Zangardi bounced a single through the right side. Zangardi then stole second, putting

runners on second and third with no outs. After Loagan Stickler struck out, Matthew Ganschow

grounded to third—Gladfelter was tagged out, and Ganschow was thrown out at first to complete

an inning-ending double play, ending the Americans’ threat.

The Doubledays tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the inning on one hit, two walks,

and a hit-by-pitch.

Jackson Learner fired three and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen, allowing two earned runs

on three hits, with two walks and four strikeouts.

Aiden Mroz took the loss, dropping his record to 2-3.

David Harris went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs scored, extending his 16-game

hitting streak and 21-game on-base streak.

Justin Gladfelter finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base. He has now recorded a

multi-hit game in six of his last seven contests.

Dominick Zangardi went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base,

marking his ninth straight game with a hit and his seventh game with at least one RBI over the

last eight games.

The Americans struggled to plate runners all game, going just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring

position.

The loss dropped the Americans to 12-26 on the season. Auburn snapped a four-game losing

streak, improving to 19-14 and winning the season series against Niagara Falls.

Links

PGCBL Box Score

Game Livestream

After three days between games, the Americans return home to Sal Maglie Stadium on Thursday,

July 23, to face Power City Athletics—a premier travel baseball program—in a seven-inning

exhibition game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and it’s $2 Beer Night.

By: Tom Rook

July 19, 2026