XML Box Score Elizabethtown, PA - The Blue Jays took a 5-1 lead after just two innings of play then added four runs in the third and five runs in the fifth to take a commanding 14-2 lead. They added salt to the Falcons' wounds in the bottom of the eighth when they tacked on three more runs to complete the 17-3 rout.
The Falcons (10-11, 8-5) posted single runs in the second, third, and seventh innings, with key hits coming from
Joseph Saufley,
Hunter Stewart, and
Derek Drake. Despite managing nine total hits, the Falcons' offensive production was at a minimum compared to the Blue Jays' 17 runs on 21 hits . After scoring their first two runs, the Falcons were held scoreless through the next four innings, but pushed another run across the plate in the seventh. They did so by stringing together two hits and took advantage of two Elizabethtown errors to post their final run of the game.
The Blue Jays' (12-10, 5-6) offense forced the Falcons to use four different pitchers throughout the game with the start and eventual loss going to
Steven Ridings (2-1). In just two innings of work, Ridings gave up five runs on eight hits.
Zach Luman replaced Ridings in the bottom of the third and faced just seven batters before being removed from the game. Luman seemed to be in command after retiring the first two batters he faced, yet a walk and two fielding errors initiated a problematic inning. After giving up a single, Luman hit two straight batters to load the bases and inevitably end his time on the mound.
Mitch McClure was the next pitcher to face the Blue Jays. He gave up a two-run single before retiring the side. In the fourth, McClure faced six batters and gave up a walk and three singles before hitting a batter to once again load the bases. McClure exited the game after giving up five runs on four hits and was replaced by
Russell Woleslagel. Woleslagel got out of the fourth after giving up a single and a double, but the damage had been done. The Blue Jays led 14-2. Woleslagel held Elizabethtown to just four hits through the next three innings before giving up a three-run homerun to Ryan Shirk in the bottom of the eighth.
Fortunately for the Falcons, this was just one game in the course of a 30-plus game season. They have the opportunity to rebound tomorrow when they host the Blue Jays in the final two games of a three-game series. Game one begins at 12:00 p.m.
