The Batavia Muckdogs were down by six runs before their first hitter even stepped to the plate Friday night and over the course of nine innings the hometown team never could climb out of the hole.
The Muckdogs fell to 3-5 on the season with a 9-7 loss to Williamsport, now 5-3.
Starter Dakota Bennett, a 2017 11th round draft pick out of Somerville, Ala., lasted only two-thirds of an inning and took the loss in his first NYPL game.
Muckdogs Right fielder Jerar Encarnacion continued to tear apart NYPL pitching, raising his average to .514, second best in the league, with a 3-4 night. He scored two runs.
Big first baseman Sean Reynolds, who had the game-winning hit Thursday night, knocked one over the fence for the first time in the season in the seventh inning.
J.D. Osborne also had two hits and two RBI. He raised his average to .348.
The Muckdogs close out the homestand tonight against Williamsport. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
Bryce Howe, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, took over for Bennett in the first and pitched 3 1/2 innings, giving up one unearned run and four hits.
