HILBERT, N.Y. – La Roche baseball took on Hilbert in AMCC action on Sunday afternoon, coming away from the doubleheader with a split.
GAME ONE: Hilbert 9 La Roche 8 F/10
La Roche would strike first in the top of the second inning, when Tyler Smith drove in Brandon Snyder with an RBI single to make it 1-0.
Hilbert would take control in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs to lead 4-1.
The Redhawks would tie the game right away in the top of the fourth, as DJ Loveland made it 4-2 with an RBI single, then Tanner Schmitt followed with a two RBI single, making it 4-4.
The Hawks took the lead right back in the bottom of fourth with a solo homer to move the needle to 5-4.
Snyder would start a stretch of four unanswered in the top of the seventh, as he picked up a two-run homer on the top of the fifth to give the lead back to La Roche, 6-5.
The Redhawks then added two in the top of the seventh for some insurance, one from a wild pitch and the second off a Loveland sacrifice fly.
The insurance runs unfortunately weren't enough, as Hilbert picked up a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
It wasn't until the 10th inning when a bases loaded walk gave the Hawks the victory, 9-8.
Larry Bielawski got the start and in seven innings, allowed eight runs (seven earned), one walk and struck out three.
Jared Hough took the loss, throwing 2,1 innings, allowing one unearned run, two hits and walked four.
Offensively, La Roche picked up 13 hits, led by Smith's 3-for-4, while Loveland, Snyder, Dom Brncic and Dante Armanini all had a pair of hits.
GAME TWO: La Roche 5 Hilbert 4
La Roche again struck first in the top of the second, scoring three runs in the inning.
Ricky Heyz would start things off with an RBI single, then Josh Dreyer followed with a two RBI single to plate runs two and three.
Hilbert scored a pair in the bottom of the second to make it 3-2, as both runs crossed on a Redhawk error.
Christian Melendez moved the lead back up to 4-2 in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly, but the Hawks had a response in the bottom of the third with an RBI ground out to make it 4-3.
Andy Sopata would once again make it a two-run lead in the top of the fifth, scoring the final La Roche run with a solo home run, making it 5-3.
Hilbert again threatened in the bottom of the seventh with the game on the line, picking up an RBI single to make it 5-4, but this time, Redhawk pitching buckled in to close out the game.
Jamison Rhoades got the start and picked up the win, pitching four innings, allowing three runs (one earned), five hits, four walks and struck out four.
Caden Maffitt earned the three inning save, allowing one run, two hits, three walks and fanned two.
Offensively, La Roche picked up eight hits, led by Snyder's 2-for-3 showing.
The Redhawks are scheduled to return to action Tuesday, Apr. 8 when they host Penn State New Kensington for a 3 p.m. matchup.