With the victory, the BlueClaws improved to 23-36 and snapped a six-game losing streak, while the Renegades dropped to 27-32.
Despite collecting plenty of hits and mounting a late comeback, defensive miscues and a rough sixth inning on the mound proved costly for Hudson Valley.
Jersey Shore struck first in the top of the third inning when Luis Caicuto lifted a sacrifice fly to score a run and give the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Joel Dragoo delivered an RBI single to extend the advantage to 2-0.
The Renegades answered in dramatic fashion in the bottom half of the inning. With the bases loaded, Wilson Rodriguez launched a grand slam to put Hudson Valley ahead 4-2. The blast was Rodriguez's fourth home run of the season and highlighted a four-run third inning for the Renegades.
The BlueClaws cut into the deficit in the fourth inning when Tyler Pettroni grounded out, allowing Josh Moylan to score from third and make it 4-3. Hudson Valley responded in the bottom of the inning as Kaden Kent drove in a run with an RBI single, pushing the Renegades' lead to 5-3.
Hudson Valley starter Allen Facundo (3.69 ERA) turned in a solid outing, pitching five innings while allowing three hits, three runs, and just one earned run. However, the game changed in the sixth after Jack Sokol came on in relief. Sokol allowed three hits and four earned runs in one inning of work as Jersey Shore erased the deficit and surged ahead.
Nick Biddison delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a two-run triple, giving the BlueClaws a 6-5 lead. Caicuto followed with his second sacrifice fly of the night to extend the advantage to 7-5.
Luis Velasquez helped stabilize the Renegades bullpen by tossing a scoreless seventh inning, while Bryce Warrecker followed with a perfect eighth. Hudson Valley cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the seventh when Kyle West drove in a run with an RBI single, making it 7-6.
Jersey Shore added an important insurance run in the ninth inning when Nikau Pouaka-Grego singled home a run to stretch the lead to 8-6.
The Renegades refused to go quietly in the bottom of the ninth. Down to their final out, Rodriguez ripped a triple into right field.
Emmanuel Tejeda followed with an RBI single, bringing Hudson Valley within one run at 8-7. The comeback attempt ultimately fell short as the BlueClaws secured the victory.
Hudson Valley's defense also struggled at key moments, committing two errors that contributed to two unearned runs.
For the BlueClaws, starter Luke Gabrysh (4.54 ERA) earned the win after allowing five runs on nine hits across five innings. Brandon Beckel followed with two innings of relief, surrendering one earned run, while Jose Pena Jr. tossed a scoreless eighth inning. Wen-Hui Pan recorded the save despite allowing a run in the ninth.
Rodriguez finished as the offensive star for Hudson Valley, going deep with a grand slam and adding a triple in the ninth. Biddison led the Jersey Shore's offense, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including the go-ahead triple in the sixth inning.
The series continues Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Article by Rebecca Peikes - Summer Intern from University of Miami
