AMSTERDAM — For only the second time this season, the Amsterdam Mohawks squared off against the Elmira Pioneers at Shuttleworth Park Tuesday night.
Amsterdam entered the game riding a five-game win streak and it took extra innings for the Mohawks to extend their streak to six with a 4-3 victory, over the Pioneers in 11 innings.
Amsterdam coach Keith Griffin had mixed feelings about how his team played.
“I thought our pitching, for the whole 11 innings was pretty good,” Griffin said. “I thought we would hit a little bit better against their pitching.”
Elmira scored two runs in the third inning to jump out ahead of Amsterdam.
Jordan Westburg started the inning off with a solo home run over the left field wall. With two outs Colin Davis was hit by a pitch and then Liam Hibbits singled to put runners at first and second. Tom Henderson drove in Davis with a double to left field to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead.
Amsterdam responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning when Cole Barr sent the ball deep over the left field wall for a solo shot, pulling the Mohawks to within one.
Elmira extended their lead in the sixth inning.
Henderson singled to left and then went to third on a chopper over first base by Mason Ruhlman. A wild pitch allowed Henderson to scored to put the Pioneers up by two, 3-1.
Amsterdam threatened in the bottom of the sixth but for the second inning in a row they had runners on third base and were unable to score.
The Mohawks fought back in the eighth inning to close the gap on Elmira.
Tanner Allen led off with a single past first base and moved over to second when Shane Muntz was hit by a pitch.
Joe Genord drove the ball deep and it bounced off the center field wall, which brought Allen across the plate making it a 3-2 ball game.
The Mohawks continued to battle back, as they did the whole game, until tying it up in the ninth.
Amsterdam drew three consecutive walks by Matt Padre, Mike Antico and Allen. With two outs and a full count, John Decker took ball four and brought Padre in with the tying run. With the score 3-3 the game went to extra innings.
Ryan McLinskey took the mound for Amsterdam in the tenth and set down the Pioneers hitters, 1-2-3 with two strikeouts.
The Mohawks had a chance to win in the 10th but, again, left another runner on third when the inning ended.
McLinskey pitched another three-batter inning to put the Mohawks in position to win.
Allen started the bottom of the eleventh with a walk and then landed on second when Michael Ludowig singled to center field.
With one out, Trip Lockhart laid down a perfect bunt and got on at first to load the bases.
Next up was Justin Foscue who drilled a hit down the third baseline for a walk off single that brought in Allen with the game winner.
The win allows the Mohawks (26-15) to stay atop the East division, while the loss leaves Elmira (18-24) struggling to hold on to the third spot in the West division.
Elmira is off Wednesday night and the Mohawks will host the Utica Blue Sox at 6:35.
Amsterdam 4, Elmira 3, 11 innings
Elmira Pioneers 002 001 000 00 — 3 8 0
Amsterdam Mohawks 001 000 011 01 — 4 10 0
Madden, Gregory(7), Moffitt(8), Vitacco(10)and Corliss; Muntz, Rhodes(6), Stanavich(7), Kerr(8), Sabato(9), McLinskey(10) and Padre
