ALBANY, N.Y.- Dylan D’Anna (Siena) struck out nine batters over six and two thirds innings of four-hit shutout ball and the bats stayed hot as the Albany Dutchmen (22-16) defeated the Saugerties Stallions (21-21), 7-0, at Connors Park on Tuesday.
With six games remaining, the Dutchmen now lead the Stallions by three games for second place in the East Division. The top two teams in each division earn a playoff bid, and the third-place team with the division that has the team with the best record. The Amsterdam Mohawks (25-15) currently lead the Dutchmen by two games atop the East Division.
D’Anna did not walk a batter and two-way player Cole McNamee (Wake Forest) followed up his Player of the Week award at the plate by pitching two and a third innings of one hit relief to earn the save, his team leading third of the season.
After three and a half scoreless innings, the Dutchmen got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Jerry Huntzinger (Seton Hall) hit a two-out single to score Cameron Masterman (Louisville), who led off the inning with a walk.
Following a one-out single by Carlos Pino (Nyack) in the fifth, D’Anna retired the final seven batters he faced, four by way of the strikeout.
In the bottom of the sixth, Albany scored two unearned runs on a passed ball and an infield error.
Gregory Allard (Stony Brook) took the loss for Saugerties. The starter went five innings and allowed one run on three hits. He walked five and struck out three.
In the seventh, the Dutchmen tacked on four runs to add more breathing room. Lucas Dunn (Louisville) walked and scored on an overthrown pickoff attempt. Then, Masterman ripped a single to right to score another. Later, Griffen Herrera (Azusa Pacific) hit a two-run double to cap the scoring at seven.
Masterman was 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Brandon Seltzer (Palm Beach Atlantic) finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.
Tyler Kelder (St. Bonaventure) was 1-for-3 with a walk for the Stallions.
The Dutchmen are scheduled to return home on Wednesday to host the Glens Falls Dragons (14-25) for Siena College Night and Fans Pick the Promos. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm.
The Stallions will be off on Wednesday before hosting the Dutchmen on Thursday at 7:05 pm.