JAMESTOWN, NY – The Niagara Falls Americans traveled to Jamestown, New York to face the Tarp Skunks in an early-day matchup. A home run in the 5th inning propelled the Americans to a gritty victory by a score of 7-4. The Americans continue their undefeated streak to open the season by moving to 5-0, while Jamestown slides to 3-3.
On a down day offensively for the Americans, Ethan Madison and Grant Moore were key pieces in earning the victory. Madison hit the first home run of the 2025 Americans season, a ball to left center that drove in three runs, including the eventual winning run. Moore had his 5th consecutive multiple hit day, hitting a single and a double, his first extra base hit of the season. Additionally, he continued his streaks of getting a leadoff single in the 1st inning in all three of his opportunities, and has now stolen at least one base in four consecutive games.
Robert Leach was the starter for the Americans today. He pitched the first 3.0 innings, striking out two and allowing three runs. The winning pitcher, Jake Roscher, started the 4th inning and would pitch the next 3.2. He allowed no runs in his time on the rubber, striking out four. Nolan Jackson entered in relief with two outs in the 7th. Over 0.2 innings, Jackson allowed one run. Hudson Boring finished on the mound for Niagara Falls, pitching the final 1.2 innings, and earning his second save of the season. He allowed no baserunners among the five batters he faced, striking out one of them.
Jamestown’s dozen hit day was be led by Brady McGuire, Dom Costello, and Nolan Smith. McGuire went 3-for-5 at the plate, driving in one run. Costello recorded two hits in four at bats, including a double in the 8th inning that drove in one run, the Tarp Skunks’ only extra base hit of the day. Smith also went 2-of-4 at the plate, recording two RBIs and walking once.
Hunter Bell started on the mound for Jamestown, and pitched the first 3.0 innings. He allowed only one hit and one run, striking out four and walking none before being relieved by Daniel Thomas. Thomas pitched the next 2.0 innings scoreless, where only one baserunner reached base, via an error. Christian Pencek pitched the full 6th inning, allowing one hit and one unearned run, and striking out two. The losing pitcher, Landon Castro pitched the full 7th inning, allowing one walk, one hit by pitch, and then allowing the home run hit, while also striking out one. After Nick Ianniello pitched to the first two outs in the 8th, Anthony Serrano took over on the mound and pitched the final 1.1 innings for Jamestown. Serrano’s first pitch was a wild pitch that allowed an inherited runner to score, but he would remain unscathed otherwise, recording an out on all four batters faced, including one strikeout.
The Americans came out looking to take an early lead on their opponent from just two days ago. Leadoff batter Grant Moore recorded his first extra base hit of the season, a double to center field. After Ian Huang reached on a hit by pitch, Moore and Huang attempted a double steal. Moore would reach safely, but Huang would be thrown out at 2nd base. This was Moore’s 9th stolen base of the season, breaking the tie, and establishing himself as the league’s stolen base leader. A sacrifice fly by Nick Paszt allowed Moore to score, giving the Americans an early lead.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Jamestown was eager to come out and get ahead in front of the packed home crowd. The inning started with back-to-back singles by Brady Marshall and Dom Costello. After a fielders choice that resulted in an out, and a strikeout, Matthew Dumas walked to load the bases with two outs. Brady McGuire stepped to the plate and hit a single to center field that allowed one run to score. Nolan Smith was the next batter to step into the box, and hit another single to center field, this time allowing two to score. McGuire would be caught trying to advance to third on this play, ending the inning.
The 3-1 score held until the 6th inning. After strikeouts by the first two batters in the top of the 6th, Toshinari Kurokawa walked, getting on base for the first time in his 2025 Americans season. Moore then hit a single to left field, moving Kurokawa to second. An error by the shortstop allowed the next batter, Huang, to reach 1st, and allowed Kurokawa to score. Despite not scoring any more runs in the 6th, the Americans carried the momentum through the bottom of the inning, recording a 1-2-3 inning and getting the offense back to the plate.
Landon Castor entered the game at the start of the 7th inning for Jamestown. Nick Paszt welcomed Castor to the game by walking to leadoff the inning. Christopher Guzaldo was the next batter for Niagara Falls and reached base via hit by pitch. The next batter, Shane Pray, would lay down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to 2nd and 3rd base. Ethan Madison then stepped to the plate and hit a home run to left center field, driving in three runs on the first home run for the Americans this season. This homer was the first home run by an opponent at Russell E. Dietrich, Jr. Park since 2023. Madison’s own run on the hit would later become the winning run for the night. Jamestown would record outs on the next two batters, ending the Americans’ spark.
Nick Ianniello entered to start the 8th inning for the Tarp Skunks. Leadoff batter Liam Shaut walked before a Kurokawa groundout advanced him to 2nd base. After an intentional walk on Moore, a strikeout by Huang, and Paszt reaching on a hit by pitch, Jamestown found themselves in a 2 out, bases loaded jam. Guzaldo worked a walk, pushing Moore over home plate. After the walk, Jamestown put the ball in Anthony Serrano’s hand. His first pitch of the game was a wild pitch, and allowed Shaut to cross home. Serrano did not let the score impact him however, going on to strike out the only batter he faced in the 8th.
Jamestown scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the 8th inning. After a foul fly out by the leadoff batter, Nathan Borchardt walked, and then Brady Marshall singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd, with one out. Dom Costello hit a double to right field, allowing Borchardt to score. Niagara Falls turned to the bullpen and brought Hudson Boring into the game. The next two batters lined out and then grounded out to shortstop, ending the inning.
Following a ground out by all three Americans batters in the 9th, Jamestown needed three runs to force extra innings, or four to walk it off in front of the home crowd. Boring served as an obstacle, as after a groundout to first and a fly out to center field, Boring struck out the final batter, earning Niagara Falls their 5th consecutive win, and earning himself his 2nd save of the season.
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Catch the next Americans home game on Wednesday, June 11th when we host the Geneva Red Wings in a contest scheduled to start at 6:30pm. To purchase single-game or season ticktes, call 716-215-6161 or visit niagarafallsamericans.com for more information. Season tickets start as low as $99! If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the Americans, or organizing a group outing to an Americans game, please contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.
All WNY is a proud sponsor of the Niagara Falls Americans.
