Herkimer baseball splits with Schenectady

Schenectady, NY – Herkimer traveled to Central Park in Schenectady on Tuesday for a Mountain Valley Conference doubleheader. Herkimer won the first game 1-0, but the Royals of Schenectady CCC snapped Herkimer's 11-game win streak in Game Two by the score of 4-3. Late Wednesday weather washed out the games that were scheduled for Thursday. They have been moved Sunday May 5.

Herkimer scored one run in the fourth inning of Game One to take a 1-0 lead. Chris Burns led off the inning with a single off SCCC ace Kyle Rufer. Brent Baker plated the winning and go-ahead run with a single later in the inning. That was enough for Herkimer starter Nick Burch. Burch went a complete seven innings, allowing only two hits and three walks. Burch struck out seven in earning his second win of the season.

Fairfield University transfer Chris Kalica snapped Herkimer's 11-game win streak in Game Two. Kalica helped his own cause by hitting a solo home run in the fifth. That blast provided what proved to be the winning run. Herkimer was down 3-2 when Kalica launch his homer - his second round-tripper of the year. Herkimer's Dan Smith scored on a Paxton Jordan double in the sixth, but the Generals could not get Jordan home to tie the contest. Herkimer dropped the game 4-3.

HCCC moved to 15-10 overall and 14-2 in Region III. The team also entered the NJCAA National Poll at #12 this week. Herkimer has now been represented in the national rankings eight years in a row. The Generals will host local rival Mohawk Valley on Saturday at noon and then will finish the four-game series at Murnane Field in Utica on Sunday at noon. The Herkimer-MV series is now being called the Larry Doby Series, similar to the annual Jackie Robinson Game between Hamilton College and Utica College.