The Spartans took on a struggling Sherrill Silversmiths team Thursday July 7th, following their first mercy-rule loss of the season to the Saltcats the previous evening. Cooper Meldrim got the nod for Syracuse, his 4th start of the season, first one in a couple weeks. Thomas Roefaro had his second start for the Silversmiths against the Spartans. 

Both opened their appearances holding each other scoreless. Meldrim continued so in the second, but Roefaro did not. Kyle Hoog opened up scoring with an RBI single, and new catcher Perry Chetney added on two more with a 2 RBI double of his own. Meldrim shut down the Silversmiths 1-2-3 with impressive pace in the third, then Spartans picked up right where they left off, with a lead-off JC Ng single. With two outs, Camden New drove in two more runs with a triple to left center field. It was then 5-0 Spartans entering the 4th inning. 

Cooper Meldrim didn’t allow a run until a lack of command in the fourth. The SIlversmiths brought it back into reach, with three walks, five straight singles, a popout, then a hit by pitch,  curating 5 runs for the Sherrill ballclub, to tie things at 5 a piece going into the bottom of the fourth. Talk about a turnaround.

Logan Persse was the first out of the bullpen, holding the Silversmiths scoreless after two hits and a walk in the 5th inning. It remained a stalemate until an RBI flyout from Joseph Comins, to make it a 6-5 lead for Sherrill. Anthony Poole quickly followed with an RBI triple. After Bendetto flew out, Jackson Haker concluded the two run inning with a groundout.

LHP Dylan Osullivan was the first out of the bullpen for the Silversmiths. After his two runs allowed, Persse quickly exited the ballgame, with Austin Dunn replacing him for the Spartans. 

Colin Plante subsequently reopened scoring for Sherrill in the 8th, hitting a 1 out triple, then scoring on a wild pitch. The Spartans then wound up in the bottom of the 8th down three runs. They faced Sherrill’s third pitcher of the evening in the 8th, righty Ryan Friesen. Friesen walked the two first batters he saw, bringing the effectively tying batter up at the dish, in the form of Robert Johnston. That brought in RHP Colton Davis as Friesen’s replacement. Robert Johnston struck out, Kyle Hoog followed with a flyout, then Chetney struck out. 

Albert Cuello Batista took over on the mound for Sherrill in their final inning of work, working with a 8-5 lead in the bottom of the 9th. Batista proceeded to strike out the side, securing the 8-5 win for the SilverSmiths, finishing the Spartans’ homestand.