Tarp Skunks Split Doubleheader With Power
NIAGARA FALLS — As if nearly four hours and 10 innings of baseball weren’t enough for the Jamestown Tarp Skunks on Monday night, they decided to play extra innings again Tuesday — in the first game of a doubleheader.
Jamestown scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to beat the Niagara Power 5-3 in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Sal Maglie Stadium.
Chase Carlson started on second base to open the eighth inning and scored on Haiden Hunt’s RBI single. Hunt then stole second before Mark Tucker grounded out to first base. Luke Turner then singled in Hunt before being thrown out attempting to steal. A strikeout ended the frame.
In the bottom of the inning, Justin Guiliano worked around a hit batter to preserve the win.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning, the Tarp Skunks’ Johnny Kampes tied the game with a leadoff home run.
Jamestown took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Luke Turner singled with one out and scored on Padraig O’Shaughnessy’s two-out RBI double.
The Power tied the game in the bottom of the inning before the Tarp Skunks again took a one-run lead in the top of the fifth inning. Cory Blackburn and Carlson walked with one out before Niagara did not record an out on an infield grounder. Tucker then walked to force in a run before the Power got out of the inning with a double play on a flyball to right field.
Again Niagara tied the game in the bottom of the inning, which eventually forced extra innings.
Jamestown wasted no time getting on top in Game 2 — but the lead didn’t last as the Power won 14-5.
Hunt led off the first inning with a single and scored on DiMaggio Cazares’ RBI double. Following Turner’s single, Kampes hit an RBI single. O’Shaughnessy then singled to load the bases before back-to-back walks to Blackburn and Kyle Borrello forced in two more runs.
Niagara scored four runs in its first two innings to tie the game, but the Tarp Skunks regained the lead in the top of the third inning when Kampes singed, went to second and third on passed balls, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Anthony Badala.
The Power took over from there with three runs in the fourth inning and sixth more in the fifth, chasing Jamestown starter Evan Harrison in the process.
The West Division first-place Tarp Skunks (16-7) return to action at 7 tonight when they host the Power (9-14) at Diethrick Park.