Early Ending: Americans Fall to Muckdogs in Mercy Rule Loss

BATAVIA, N.Y. — After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Niagara Falls

Americans dropped a 14-4 decision to the Batavia Muckdogs in a seven-inning, mercy-rule

walk-off Saturday night at Dwyer Stadium.

Justin Gladfelter earned the first hit of the game, lacing a one-out double down the left field line

in the opening frame. Loagan Stickler followed Gladfelter, scoring him on a deep double to

center field. Then, Stickler advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an Adam Weiss

sacrifice fly to give the Americans a 2-0 lead.

Jeremy Ramos worked a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, and Evan Brock moved Ramos

to third on a double to right field. Jacob Veczko got the Muckdogs on the board with a sacrifice

fly, making it a 2-1 game.

Following a scoreless second inning, Cooper Russell walked to lead off the bottom of the third.

Ramos ripped a triple down the right field line, scoring Russell and knotting the game at 2-2.

Brock walked after Ramos but was thrown out trying to steal second for the first out of the

inning. After Niagara Falls brought the infield in, Veczko hit a ground ball to Gladfelter, who

threw out Ramos at the plate for the second out of the inning, keeping the game tied. With two

outs, Brayden Redmond doubled to right-center, scoring Veczko and giving the Muckdogs their

first lead of the game.

In the fourth, the first two Muckdogs hitters reached safely. Luke Rybczynski followed with a

bunt single, and an errant throw by Thomas Marcotte allowed him to advance to third while both

runners scored. Braeden Eye then hit a single to right, scoring Rybczynski. Later in the inning,

Brock lined a triple to right-center to score two runs, capping a five-run inning and extending the

Muckdogs’ lead to 8-2.

Aiden Mroz made his seventh start of the season for the Americans, tossing four innings and

allowing eight earned runs on eight hits with six walks and two strikeouts. The six walks were

the most Mroz has issued in a single game this year. Although it was his eighth appearance on

the mound, it was Mroz’s third start against Batavia—the team he’s faced the most this year.

Colin Stefanucci started for the Muckdogs, pitching four innings and surrendering two earned

runs on three hits with one strikeout.

Batavia added three runs in the fifth on a two-out, bases loaded single from Jeremy Ramos that

got past Evan Shank in left field, allowing all three baserunners to score. This made it 11

unanswered runs for the Muckdogs.

Niagara Falls responded with a run in each of the next two innings. Gladfelter scored on a wild

pitch in the sixth, while Ryotaro Munakata hit a dribbler down the third base line that Brock

fielded but threw away at first, allowing Marcotte to score in the seventh. Marcotte’s run cut the

deficit to 11-4.

Walter Garrett tossed a scoreless fifth inning out of the Batavia bullpen, while Landen Stoddard

and Matt Marsh each pitched an inning, allowing one unearned run apiece.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Eye smacked a single to left-center field, extending

the Muckdogs’ lead to 12-4. After a Cooper Russell hit by a pitch, Ramos dunked a double into

left-center, scoring two runs to give the Muckdogs a walk-off mercy-rule victory in seven

innings.

Jackson Learner pitched two and two-thirds innings out of the Americans’ bullpen, surrendering

six runs (three earned) on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. It was Learner’s team-

high 15th appearance of the season.

Mroz was charged with the loss, dropping to 2-4 on the season, while Walter Garrett earned the

win for Batavia after delivering a scoreless fifth inning, improving his record to 2-2.

Both teams combined for nine extra-base hits in the game. Gladfelter finished 1-for-2 with a

double and two runs scored, while Marcotte went 2-for-3 with one run scored.

David Harris went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 17 games and on-base streak at 22.

For Batavia, Ramos finished 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, five RBIs, two walks and two runs

scored. Brock went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk.

The Americans committed three errors in the game, their most since July 10 at Colburn Park

against the Newark Pilots where they committed a season-high eight.

This was Batavia’s final game of the regular season, as the Muckdogs finished 29-10-1, while the

Americans dropped to 13-27 following the loss. Batavia earned the top seed in the Perfect Game

Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) West Division, and will host the No. 4 seed Monday night.

Links

PGCBL Box Score

Game Livestream

Niagara Falls will conclude its 2026 season Sunday at Bradner Stadium against the Olean Oilers.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., with the Americans trailing the season series, 3-0.

By: Tom Rook

July 26, 2026