By Donny Chiarel

SYRACUSE, NY – The Syracuse Spartans began their final homestand of the summer with a doubleheader against the Cortland Crush. The first game was a make-up of a postponement from Tuesday, picking up from a 4-3 Crush lead in the top of the fourth for game one.

Nick Jessen started in the fourth in the resumed action, and he looked fantastic. His final line was six innings, giving up only two runs with non earned, two walks and five strikeouts. A four-pitch ninth inning shut things down before Cortland could have any chance at a rally.

In the top of the eighth, Kyle Hoog and Grant Shepherd collected singles, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Anthony May grounded one towards Zach Marriott that went through his legs into left field. Shepherd scored easily, and Conder came dashing around third to slide in safely, giving the Spartans their first lead at 7-6.

Pat May reached on a walk to resume action in the top of the fourth. Jake Sisto collected a single, but then got caught in a pickle that ended in an out at second. Heads-up baserunning from Pat May stole home in the top of the fourth to even the ballgame at 4-4.

Buzz Shirley reached on a single and Alexis Castillo walked to start the bottom of the fifth. On a passed ball, both runners advanced into scoring position. Shirley scored on an error from Patrick May to give Cortland the lead at 5-4. Nick Pastore grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Castillo, pushing the score to 6-4.

Syracuse had some work to do going into the sixth. Grant Shepherd and Teague Conder both reached on walks. Anthony May did his job with a sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners to second and third. Moments after, Shepherd scored on a passed ball to pull within one.

In the top of the eighth, Kyle Hoog and Grant Shepherd collected singles, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Anthony May grounded one towards Zach Marriott that went through his legs into left field. Shepherd scored easily, and Conder came dashing around third to slide in safely, giving the Spartans their first lead at 7-6.

Game Two

Zach Kemp took the mound for game two, but he had a tough first inning to work through. Two walks allowed to Shirley and Castillo gave Kemp some pressure, but he navigated through to end the inning without allowing a run.

Caleb Millikan led things off in the home half of the first in a big way. He roped a Kevin Rosengren fastball into deep left center, which gave him a clear path for a triple. On his way into third, a throwing error allowed Millikan to dash home. With one at bat, the Spartans took the lead, 1-0.

More trouble brewed in the top of the third with back-to-back hits for Cortland. Zach Kemp went on to force two flyouts and a groundout to escape the frame. That jam increased the runners left on base total for the Crush to four in just three innings.

Kyle Hoog lined a double into deep left to give the Spartans some juice in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Teague Conder reached on a walk, and Hoog stole third moments later. Conder swiped second, and on the throw back home, Seth Reismann was unable to hold on, letting Hoog slide in safely to increase the lead. Jackson Geisler then laced a ball into right, scoring Conder on an RBI double, to give the Spartans a 3-0 cushion.

Things got a lot tighter in the top of the sixth. Buzz Shirley reached on a walk, and Nick Pastore sent a missile to right center, leaving the yard for his fourth home run of the season. Just like that, the score was 3-2.

Noah Millikan came in to relieve Kemp in the top of the seventh. After walking Welch, Millikan recorded consecutive strikeouts. With an 0-2 count, Javier Rosa poked one past Caleb Millikan at second to score Boule, the pinch runner, tying the game at three apiece.

Eight straight balls from Millikan in the eighth gave the Crush two baserunners quickly. Tommy Thamann blooped a single into left to load the bases with no outs, loading the bases. Somehow, some way, Millikan went on to punch out the side in order, fist pumping his way to the dugout.

His final line included two innings and six strikeouts, just what the doctor ordered to head to the final frame.

The bottom of the eighth, the final inning of the ballgame, started with a hit-by-pitch to Caleb Millikan, the winning run at first. A wild pitch would advance Millikan to second with Kyle Hoog at the dish, who ended up drawing a walk. Drake Warner popped out to center field, leaving a few on the bases to end the ballgame.

The Spartans are back at home tomorrow against the Syracuse Salt Cats for a doubleheader, with a 5:00 start time for game one. Game two will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion. As a reminder, admission is free for the rest of the summer.