By BRADY FARKAS
www.cliftonparkworldseries.com
CLIFTON PARK — A night after watching fellow Capital Region team Clifton Park win its opening game against Eagle Pass, Texas, Guilderland would not be outdone.
The Bulldogs evened their record in pool play at the Babe Ruth World Series at 1-1 after defeating Glen Allen, Va., 5-2, Saturday at Clifton Common.
Right-hander Matt Pierce earned the victory for Guilderland, pitching four innings. He allowed two runs, only one of which was earned.
Pierce skated in and out of trouble all day, walking six and stranding seven Glen Allen runners.
“He (Pierce) battled. He got the outs when he needed to but on a hot day, at the end of four, I felt like he was gassed,” manager Brian Grabek said.
Offensively, Guilderland put up three runs in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. After Glen Allen starter Noah Williams put the first two men on, Casey Chase dropped a bunt to advance the runners. It turned out to be much more than a sacrifice as Glen Allen sent the ball sailing into right field, which allowed both runners to score and put Chase at second.
He later scored on a single from Brandon Peda.
Glen Allen cut the lead to 3-2 in the top half of the third on a suicide squeeze bunt from Wyatt Collins and an RBI single from Cole Blackman.
Guilderland managed only five hits and left five men on in its opening-game loss Friday to Jasper, Ind. Right fielder Ryan Cullam made sure that wouldn’t happen again.
With two outs and two on in the fourth, Cullam smacked a double that brought home the final two insurance runs the Bulldogs would need.
“It was an inside fastball. I was thinking about it and it was right there and I got it,” he said. “I was just happy I could contribute to the team.” The double earned Cullam the Ron Tellefsen Player of the Game award.
“Ryan’s hit was absolutely the backbreaker of the game,” Grabek said.
Kristian Singh preserved the lead by firing a scoreless final three frames. He allowed three hits and had three strikeouts.
In addition to solid pitching and timely hitting, Guilderland got help on the defensive side of the field as catcher Ryan Curry threw out a would-be base-stealer in the sixth.
“Today, finally felt like we played our game. Today had it all,” Grabek said.
Glen Allen was led by Ron Tellefsen Player of the Game Kyle Battle. He went 2-for-3 with two singles and a run scored.
The loss drops Glen Allen to 1-1 in the American Division. The team will take the field next on Monday against Tri-Valley, Calif.
Guilderland will meet Atlantic Shore, N.J., Sunday at 5 p.m.
The Bulldogs know they need to keep winning to advance out of pool play but they continue to root for their crosstown friends from Clifton Park:
“We felt good for Clifton Park, and we want to meet them in the championship game of the World Series,” Cullam said.

Glen Allen, Va. 002 000 0 – 2 7 2
Guilderland 030 200 X – 5 7 2
2B – (G) Cullam. SB – (GA) Battle 3, Williams, Arnold. (G) Peda, Rogotzke.

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