Pomona, NY—The Empire State Greys (5-11) have defeated the New York Boulders (9-8) 6-3 behind a phenomenal start by Michael Barker and JR DiSarcina’s offensive explosion.
Empire State continued doing what it has done best this season, early offense. In the top of the 2nd, JR DiSarcina started his offensive explosion. The shortstop opened the scoring with a 2 RBI double to left field off Boulders starter Ryan Munoz (L, 2-3). Two batters later, he came around to score on an Eric Jenkins single giving the Greys a 3-0 lead.
Michael Barker (W, 1-2) set the tone for Greys on the bump. The righty went five innings, striking out four, allowed just one run, and earned his first win of the season. What made his outing even more impressive was that eleven Boulders reached base throughout his five innings of work, yet just one came across to score. The lone run-on Barker’s ledger came across on a Thomas Walraven double in the bottom of the 3rd,cutting the Greys lead to 3-1.
The Greys brought the lead back to three in the 5thdue to a throwing error by the Boulders shortstop. Chris Kwitzer swiftly brought the Greys lead back down to two with a single to left field in the 7th, making it a 4-2 ball game.
JR DiSarcina immediately answered back in the top of the 8th. He led off the inning with a home run over the short porch in right field for his first home run of the season. DH Josh Sears extended the lead to 6-2, with a ground-rule double to right-center field.
After Nick Trabacci allowed a run and got the second out in the bottom of the 8th, the Greys turned to Tanner Propst in an attempt for a four-out save. Propst was up for the occasion not allowing a hit over the 1 1/3 innings, striking out two and earned his first save of the season.
The Greys will face off against the Boulders tomorrow night in the rubber match at 7 pm EST as they look to take the series.