Baseball Season Ends at Region 3 Final Four

The Kats defeated Herkimer College on Friday, 6-4, before falling to Niagara County Community College and Herkimer College in the double elimination Region III Baseball Final Four.

Erie took the lead late in the game over Herkimer.  The game was tied at four in the top of the seventh when Tristen Ciarlo grounded out, scoring one run. They would add an insurance run in the next inning and hold on for the win. 

The Kats got things started in the second inning when Colin Fryling hit a solo homer. They went up 2-0 in the top of the fourth before Herkimer put up a three spot in the bottom of the inning.  By the end of the fifth inning, the teams were knotted at four.  

Erie tallied two hits in the game including four home runs. Cole Cote had a homer in the fifth inning. Fryling put one out in the second and eighth innings. AJ Karosas had a long ball in the fifth inning.  Fryling and Arlain Sesin each collected multiple hits.

Connor Desiderio got the start for the Kats. The fireballer allowed three hits and four runs over six innings, striking out seven and walking one.

The Kats fell behind early in the first game on Saturday and couldn't come back in a 10-3 loss to NCCC. Erie totaled ten hits in the game. Carter Arbuthnot, Ciarlo and Karosas each had multiple hits.  

Nolan Evans took the loss for Erie. The pitcher lasted four innings, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out four and walking one.

The Kats hopes of a Region title rested on a rematch with Herkimer College on Saturday night but the Kats fell short, 12-2. Erie got things moving in the first inning, when they scored one run on a stolen base.  They stayed in it until the end, but Herkimer pulled away late, putting up eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn the victory.

Erie struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing Herkimer, giving up 14 hits while only managing three of their own. 

Spencer Harford took the loss, allowing six hits and four runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out four.

The Kats finished the season with a 21-18 record.