WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.– Boston Smith made an immediate impact in his Crosscutters debut, belting a three-run home run to help Williamsport to a 14-2 victory over the Trenton Thunder.
Smith, who belted 26 home runs for Wright State this past season, got a hanging breaking ball in the bottom of the 2nd inning and did not miss it, sending a 107 mile per rocket down the right field line and off the back wall of the Cutters bullpen, scoring three runs, capping off the Cutters nine-run inning.
Matt Ilgenfritz got the scoring started for the Crosscutters in the bottom of the 2nd inning, slicing a two-run single to right field, scoring Hayden Jatczak and Matthew Graveline to make it a 2-0 lead.
Armani Newton added to the lead, wearing a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 3-0. Logan Johnstone singled home a run, followed by a two-run double from Taeg Gollert to up the lead to 6-0, leading to the Smith homer.
Williamsport saw all nine batters in the line up reach base and score in the frame.
Starting pitcher, Bailey Matela, did not waste the offensive support, twirling five strong innings, allowing just one run and striking out six. Matela, a career reliever at Old Dominion, is now 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA over two starts for Williamsport.
Ilgenfritz added his third RBI of the night in the bottom of the 5th inning, scoring Graveline from 3rd with a single. The run gave the Cutters a 10-1 advantage. Graveline led off the inning with his second triple of the season.
Williamsport added four more runs in the seventh inning, as Ilgenfritz added another RBI, finishing the night with four runs batted in and collecting three hits (all singles), for his first three-hit night of the season.
Graveline also collected his first, three-hit night of the season and scored three runs in the winning effort.
Sam Swygert worked two scoreless frames of relief and Jared Ure allowed one run over two innings to close out the win for the Crosscutters.
Williamsport and Trenton will continue this three-game series with Game #2 on Saturday Night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and features Post-Game Fireworks presented by Coors Light, WZXR, the Quality Inn and ZY Pyrotechnics.
Tickets for tomorrow night and all remaining 2025 Cutters home games are still available! Secure your seats now by visiting Crosscutters.com/Tickets, calling the Cutters Hotline at 570-326-3389 or by visiting the Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field Box Office in-person.
Cutters Carvings - Smith’s home run was estimated at 371 feet… The Cutters previous season-high for runs in a game was 13 at Trenton on June 4th… Ilgenfritz entered the night 1-10 at the plate with no RBI…
