Doubledays walkoff with 4-3 win over Crosscutters

AUBURN, N.Y. - The Auburn Doubledays (8-3) continued their perfect record at home this season with a 4-3 walkoff win on Thursday night over the Williamsport Crosscutters (6-5). The win was also the fifth in a row overall for the Doubledays, who have now moved into sole possession of first place in the New York -Penn League's Pinckney division.

The Doubledays came in to the bottom of the ninth down 3-1 after surrendering all three runs in the eighth and ninth. Left fielder Jordan Poole led off the bottom of the ninth for Auburn with a walk, that was followed by a single to right by RF Wander Ramos. After 3B Kayyan Norfork reached on a fielder's choice that put runners on the corners with one out, pinch hitter Carlos Alvarez swung at the first pitch he saw and smacked a double to left, driving home Poole to make it a one run game.

After Alvarez's double, DH J.R. Higley was intentionally walked to load the bases. Stephen Perez then came to the plate as a pinch hitter and popped out for the second out of the inning. That put the game in the hands of 1B Shawn Pleffner, who delivered with a double off the wall in straight away center to drive home the tying and winning runs. Pleffner ended the night 3 for 4 and now has a nine game hit streak in nine games played this season.

The Doubledays first run came in the bottom of the third on a solo homerun by Ramos. That run stood until the eighth when the Crosscutters struck for two. With one out 3B Mitch Walding tripled on a line drive to right, and he was brought home on a sacrifice fly by catcher Logan Moore. With two out in the inning number nine hitter 2B Tyler Greene hit a solo homer to left to put Williamsport ahead 2-1.

The third Crosscutters run came in the ninth on an RBI single by CF Diego Gonzalez. However, RHP Jeb Stefan (0-1) couldn't hold the two-run cushion and as a result took his first loss of the season. RHP Cody Davis (2-0) got the win for Auburn going 0.2 innings allowing one hit and walking one while striking out two.

The Doubledays continue their three game series with the Crosscutters on Friday, June 29. Auburn will send LHP Nick Lee (0-0) to the mound for his first start of the year. He will square off against RHP Ulises Joaquin (0-0) for Williamsport. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm. There will be a happy hour from 5:00pm to 7:00pm prior to all Friday home games this summer with special food and beverage discounts. Tickets are available by calling the Doubledays box office at 315-255-2489 or by going online to www.auburndoubledays.com.