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Punzi records 8-7 walk-off victory over Adirondack

June 30, 2018 - Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL)
Utica Blue Sox News Release


The Utica Blue Sox once again had this game in the bag leading 7-0 heading into the top ninth. Although the Trail Blazers erased their deficit and scored seven runs in the top ninth to tie the game 7-7.

But Utica got out of the jam, kept the game tied 7-7, and regroup in the bottom ninth. Blue Sox's second baseman Coco Hussien moved up to second off of an error from the Trail Blazers' shortstop Lucas Stalman. Utica leftfielder Brenton Phillips also moved up to first off of an error from the Trail Blazers' pitcher Connor Stapleton. Hussien advanced to third off of the pitcher's error. Utica finally scored the game winning run when Blue Sox's catcher Sam Punzi got a single to bring Hussien home and record the 8-7 walk off victory.

Utica snapped its three game losing streak and improve to 11-12 on the year.

Utica took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom second. Cameron Phelts got a single and moved all the way to third off of an error from the Trail Blazers' first baseman Anthony Boselli. Khalyd Cox singled to bring Phelts home and give the Blue Sox a 1-0 lead. Cox stole second and then moved up to third off of a single from Hussien. Phillips also singled to bring Cox home and give Utica a two-run lead.

The Blue Sox added two more runs in the bottom fourth. With two outs, Cox hit the ball all the way out of the park for the solo homerun (UTI 3-0). Hussien got a double and later scored off of Phillips' single.

The Blue Sox had a 4-0 lead heading out of the fourth, and they once again added two more runs to their lead in the bottom fifth. Jerry Reinhart advanced to first after being hit by a pitch, and he later scored off of a double by Neiko Ramos. Phelts advanced to first, and Ramos moved up to second off of an error from Stalman. Cox walked to load the bases, and then Ramos scored off of a sacrifice fly out from Hussien to give Utica a 6-0 lead.

The Blue Sox added another run in the bottom seventh when LJ Bryant singled, stole second and third, and scored off of a double from Patrick Bordwick. Utica led it 7-0 heading out of the seventh.

In the top ninth, Boselli put Adirondack's first run on the board with a solo homerun. David Mercano and Lucas Stalman both singled, and Isiah Daubon walked to load the bases. Trail Blazers' catcher Mike Caruso walked to bring Mercano home and decrease Utica's lead by five (7-2). Jon Iadevaia singled to bring Stalman home and make the score 7-3 Blue Sox. Bradley Roberto also single to bring Daubon home and decrease Utica's lead by three (7-4). Caruso and Iadevaia also scored off of sacrifice hits from Bradley Roberto and John Polichetti to narrow Utica's lead by only one run. The Trail Blazer finally tied the game when Boselli recorded a double to bring Roberto home.

But despite the late inning rally, Adirondack could not take their first lead of the game in the top ninth or keep the game tied in the bottom ninth. Stapleton got the loss for Adirondack giving up one run and one hit in the bottom ninth.

Utica pitcher Leon Finney was the winning pitcher, as he struck out one and walked one in the top ninth.

The Blue Sox will be back home tomorrow to take on the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs. Sunday's game is scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m.

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