Baseball wins 15th straight in sweep of Vikings at home

(Herkimer's Patrick Merryweather gets out of trouble, striking out Vikings' Brandon Martinez with the bases loaded).

(Herkimer's Tyler Phillips clears the bases in the fifth with this hit to right field, helping the Generals score five in the inning).

HERKIMER, NY – Facing their stiffest test of the regular season since returning from their spring trip, the #1 Herkimer Generals baseball team hosted Hudson Valley on Saturday (4/25), sweeping the Vikings 8-3 in both games of a doubleheader, increasing their current win streak to 15 games.

Herkimer (23-3) had scored double digits runs in their last six games, relying heavily on the long ball for their lofty runs totals. The team only managed one home run in 57 at-bats against the Vikings, needing pitching to get them another home sweep.

Chad Sinko (Cohoes, NY) got the start in game one while Patrick Merryweather (Baldwinsville, NY) started game two. Both came through, only allowing five earned runs in almost 11 innings of work. Sinko went 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs off of three hits, and Merryweather allowed two runs on six hits in five innings of work. Sinko didn't get the victory in game one, needing Will Apps (Cicero, NY) to get the final out in the sixth before the team scored five runs in the bottom of the inning. It helped Apps to his first win of the season, 1-0. As for Merryweather, he tied Michael Harrington (Glens Falls, NY) for the team lead in wins with four. The sophomore had to reach down in his final inning of work after allowing two runners in scoring position with no outs. The lefty didn't allow a run, striking out former General Brandon Martinez with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Coming in relief of both games was sophomore Jake Shortslef (Hannibal, NY). The righty collected three innings of work, allowing one run off of four hits, closing out each game against the Vikings. Shortslef now has 12 innings of work this season, boasting a 1.50 ERA.

Collecting five runs batted in during the doubleheader was sophomore Chris Rave (Middletown, NY). The catcher and infielder had three RBI in game one and two in game two, collecting 10 RBI in his last four games.

Managing two RBI in the doubleheader was John Boland (Rhinebeck, NY). It all came in game one where the sophomore went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Getting his first home run of the season was shortstop Tyler Phillips (Hancock, NY). The sophomore hit it in game two, giving the All-American 26 runs batted in this season.

Herkimer will now travel to face Hudson Valley in another doubleheader on Sunday (4/26). The Generals still rank No. 2 in the Region III. As for the Vikings, they are No. 4. Game times for their Sunday doubleheader are 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Game One:

Herkimer (22-3) 8

Hudson Valley (13-4) 3

Vikings 000 003 0 5 | 3

Generals 201 005 X 13 | 8

Pitching:

Herkimer

Chad Sinko 5 2/3IP 3H 3R 3ER 1BB 1K

Will Apps (W, 1-0) 1/3IP 2H 0R 0ER 1K

Jake Shortslef 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 1K

Hudson Valley

Kory Hutchins (L, 1-1) 5IP 7H 4R 4ER 4BB 1K

Kaleb Gregg 1IP 4H 4R 4ER 4BB 1K

Hitting:

Generals

Chris Rave 2-for-4 3RBI

John Boland 2-for-4 2RBI 12B

Taishi Terashima 1-for-3 1RBI

Jake Rouse 2-for-3 1RBI 12B

Vikings

Brandon Martinez 1-for-2 1RBI

Connor McDonough 0-for-1 1RBI

Joe Bender 1-for-3 1RBI

Game Two:

Herkimer (23-3) 8

Hudson Valley (13-5) 3

Vikings 200 000 1 3 |

Generals 202 040 X 8 | 10

Pitching:

Herkimer

Patrick Merryweather (W, 4-1) 5IP 6H 2R 2ER 3BB 6K

Jake Shortslef 2IP 2H 1R 0ER 1BB

Hudson Valley

Corey Hommell (L, 1-1) 4IP 6H 4R4ER 4BB 2K 1HR

Kyle Hall 2IP 3H 4R 2ER

Hitting:

Generals

Chris Rave 2-for-3 2RBI

Tyler Phillips 1-for-2 1RBI 1HR

Thomas Carrigan 2-for-4 1RBI

Matt Lichtman 1-for-4 1RBI

Vikings

Brandon Martinez 1-for-3 1RBI

Next Doubleheader: 4/26 at Hudson Valley 12 & 2 p.m.

-Giorgio Varlaro