Perozo Lifts Pioneers to Victory

Rafael Perozo (Bronx/St. Raymond) collected five hits as the Alfred State baseball team defeated Wells 5-4 on a chilly Tuesday evening. Perozo delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the 9th.

In the 1st, Austin Baker (Canisteo Greenwood) connected on a two-out double. Perozo followed with a RBI single and Lucas Cornell (Alfred Almond) made it 2-0 with a RBI single to plate Perozo.

Baker and Perozo struck again in the 3rd. Baker led the inning with a double and scored on Perozo's RBI second RBI single.

Perozo made it 4-0 in the 5th when he laced a double to left center to score Robert Cardona (Harlem/All Hallows) who had led off the inning with a bunt single.

The Express climbed back in the game with a three run 5th inning. Tanner Dunkel led off with a single and then Mike Diehr, AJ Nesci, and Justin Forster connected on RBI triples to make it 4-3.

Wells tied it up in the 8th on a RBI single by Dylan Nolan. The Express loaded the bases but Nick Koscinski (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) picked up an inning ending strikeout.

Perozo gave the Pioneers back the lead in the top of the 9th when his 5th hit, a triple to right center, scored Cullen Franz (Cazenovia).

Jake Remington (Letchworth) didn't factor in the decision but pitched seven solid innings. He allowed seven hits and four earned runs while walking one and striking out eight. J

Perozo finished 5 for 5 with 4 RBI on the day while Baker and Cornell both collected two hits each.

Forster, Nolan, and Diehr had two hits each for Wells. Aaron Wintermute started on the mound for Wells and allowed nine hits and four earned runs in five innings of work. He had eight strikeouts and didn't walk a single batter. Christian Jorden pitched three shutout innings of relief with two hits allowed, two strikeouts and no walks.

The Pioneers are right back at it tomorrow morning when they play a 9 a.m. doubleheader with Emory & Henry at the Ripken Experience.