Americans’ Rally Late for Second Walk-Off Victory of the Season

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Niagara Falls Americans outlasted the Niagara Ironbacks for the second straight day, earning a 10-9 walk-off victory at Sal Maglie Stadium on Wednesday night. The Ironbacks’ offense came out hot, scoring three runs in the top of the first on a Ronan Glassford three-run home run. The Americans responded immediately in the bottom of the frame, as Miguel Salcedo worked a bases-loaded walk and Mitchell Canuel punched a first-pitch single into center field to tie the game at three. The hit was Canuel’s first of the season, and it came in a big spot. In the bottom of the second, the Americans loaded the bases once again. With two outs, Matthew Ganschow laced a two-run single to give the Americans a 5-3 lead. After a scoreless third, the Ironbacks plated a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single and added two more in the fifth with a sacrifice fly and a single to take a 6-5 lead. This knocked out Americans starter Aiden Mroz, who went four and two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits, with one walk and three strikeouts. The Americans answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Ganschow drilled a one-out double and, with heads-up base running, scored after two errors were made on the same play by the Ironbacks’ corner infielders. Following the Americans’ run, the Ironbacks extended their lead, scoring once in each of the next two innings. Porter Slattery came on in relief of Mroz, marking his sixth appearance of the season—the most by any Americans pitcher. He finished with two and a third innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Down 9-6 in the seventh, Derek Gesmondi doubled down the left field line to score Justin Gladfelter and make it a 9-7 game. This hit extended Gesmondi’s on-base streak to nine games— every game he’s played this season. Gladfelter reached base safely three times and scored on each occasion. He also swiped a bag, giving him at least one stolen base in each of the seven games he’s played this season. Ganschow came in to pitch from left field, making his third appearance of the season and second in the last week. He tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits with no walks and four strikeouts, earning the win. Nick Paszt led off the bottom of the ninth with a moonshot home run to dead center in his first game of the season. Later in the inning, Gesmondi moved Gladfelter over to third on a flyout to center, setting up a Ganschow game-tying double—his 13th RBI of the season, which now ranks him in the top three in RBIs in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) West Division. After a hit-by-pitch and an intentional walk, Miguel Salcedo lined a walk-off single to right field, clinching a 10-9 thriller for the Americans. Ganschow finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs, three runs, and a walk. Jackson Bower also went 2-for-4 in his first start since June 11. With the 10-9 win, the Americans pulled ahead in the season series against the Ironbacks, 3-2, and improved their overall record to 5-7. The Ironbacks have now lost five straight and dropped to 3-8.

Links

PGCBL Box Score

Game Livestream 1

Game Livestream 2

The Americans will travel to Russell E. Diethrick Jr. Park tomorrow night to take on the first- place Jamestown Tarp Skunks at 6:30 p.m. Looking ahead to the weekend, the Americans will return home on Saturday, June 20, to host Bark in the Park Night against the Batavia Muckdogs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Sal Maglie Stadium. For single-game or season tickets, call (716) 215-6161 or visit www.niagarafallsamericans.com. Season tickets start as low as $99. For sponsorship opportunities or to organize a group outing, contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.

By Tom Rook

June 17, 2026