Americans Win Extra-Inning Thriller on Walk-Off Hit-By-Pitch

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — After rallying to tie the game in the bottom of ninth, the Niagara

Falls Americans defeated the Newark Pilots, 13-12, via a walk-off hit-by-pitch in the 10th inning

on Monday at Sal Maglie Stadium.

Newark began the scoring in the second inning, plating one run on two hits.

In the bottom half, Dominick Zangardi led off with a hit-by-pitch and eventually advanced to

third on an Adam Weiss single. Anthony Savino scored Zangardi with a sacrifice fly and Thomas

Marcotte followed with an RBI single to score Weiss, giving the Americans a 2-1 lead.

Justin Gladfelter hit a double down the right field in the third, and an errant relay throw allowed

Nick Paszt to score on the play.

The Pilots added a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth, making it a 3-2 game.

In the bottom of the fifth, Justin Gladfelter and Nick Paszt hit back-to-back triples to extend the

Americans’ lead to 4-2. Later in the frame, Matthew Ganschow scored Gladfelter on a fielder’s

choice and Loagan Stickler plated Ganschow with a base knock.

In the following inning, the Pilots strung together three consecutive hits, cutting the Americans’

lead to 6-4. After a strikeout, Americans starter Josh Kandefer was taken out of the game.

Kandefer went five and one-third innings, allowing five runs (four unearned) on five hits, with

one walk, six strikeouts and four hit-by-pitches. The outing was Kandefer’s third start and

appearance of the season.

Jaxsyn Moritz entered in relief of Kandefer and Newark added three more runs on one hit, two

walks and a wild pitch, grabbing a 7-6 lead in the sixth. The Pilots then plated four runs on two

hits in the seventh, extending their lead to 11-6.

Moritz pitched one and two-thirds innings, allowing six earned runs on three hits with five walks

in his third appearance of the season.

Chipping away at the Newark lead, Adam Weiss singled in the bottom of the seventh to score

David Harris, making it 11-7.

In the eighth, the Americans tacked on two more runs after a David Harris RBI single and a

Matthew Ganschow sacrifice fly, cutting the Pilots’ lead to two.

With one out in the ninth, Loagan Stickler scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-10. Down to their

final out, Ryotaro Munkata laced an RBI single to left field, knotting the game at 11-11. The

Americans were unable to push across another run, sending the game to extra innings.

In the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL), all extra innings start with a runner

on second base, but there is only one extra inning.

In the top of the 10th, Newark scored one run on a sacrifice fly, taking a 12-11 lead.

Alex Glasscock came in as a pinch runner at second base for the Americans in the bottom of the

inning and came around to score on a Justin Gladfelter single. Following a David Harris single,

Matthew Ganschow was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Dominick Zangardi. After taking two

pitches outside the strike zone, Zangardi was plunked to force in the winning run, sealing a walk-

off victory for the Americans.

Tyler Foxcroft earned his first win of the season, firing three innings in relief. He allowed one

unearned run on one hit with four strikeouts. The outing marked Foxcroft’s fourth appearance of

the season.

Justin Gladfelter finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Two of his hits were

extra-base hits, the most he’s recorded in a single game this season. He has now posted four

consecutive multi-hit games and reached base safely in six straight contests.

David Harris also went 3-for-5 with one RBI, one run and a walk. Harris has now collected

multiple hits in six of his last seven games, including four three-hit games. He has hit safely in

13 straight games and reached base in 18 consecutive contests.

Six different Americans players had multi-hit performances. Niagara Falls recorded 17 hits as a

team, its second most in a single game this season, two behind its total in game two of

yesterday’s doubleheader against the Elmira Pioneers.

Following the win, the Americans improved to 11-24, while the Pilots fell to 5-24. This victory

secured the season series for Niagara Falls over Newark, 3-1. The Americans have now won two

consecutive games for the first time since June 20 and 21.

Links

PGCBL Box Score

Game Livestream

The Americans will take on the Batavia Muckdogs tomorrow night at Sal Maglie Stadium. First

pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and all fans in attendance will receive a team photo. Tuesday’s

matchup will be the sixth meeting between the teams this season, with Niagara Falls trailing

Batavia 5-1 in the season series.

For single-game tickets, call (716) 215-6161 or visit www.niagarafallsamericans.com. For

sponsorship opportunities or to organize a group outing, contact General Manager Marc Witt at

mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.

By: Tom Rook

July 13, 2026