Herkimer Baseball Offense Stays Hot; Sweeps Jefferson

The Herkimer Generals Baseball team continued its torrid stretch at the plate, combining for 40 runs in a doubleheader sweep over Jefferson Community College by scores of 23-0 and 17-2 in two statement wins.

Game 1: Herkimer 23, Jefferson 0

In Game 1, sophomore slugger Michael Schleider put on a show, belting two home runs and driving in five. Schleider went deep twice in the third inning alone, once with the bases empty, then again for a three-run shot to left. The Generals poured on 11 runs in that third frame, breaking the game wide open.

The Generals didn't waste time getting started either. In the bottom of the first, Zowen Collins drew a bases-loaded walk and Schleider was hit by a pitch, both bringing in runs. The Generals added two more in the second, including a solo homer from Jacob Severson and a sac fly from Jaden Madrid. The offensive avalanche continued in the fourth, with eight more runs coming in on six hits. Hugo Kohnhorst launched a solo home run, and contributions came up and down the lineup — doubles from Collins, Kohnhorst, and Severson, plus RBI singles from Obiel Sanchez and Dylan Wolfson.

Freshman Brendan Rusnack was lights out on the mound, tossing a five-inning one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and no walks to earn the win.

Herkimer finished the game with 17 hits and didn't commit a single error. Severson, Sanchez, and Kohnhorst each had three hits, while Schleider and Madrid chipped in multi-hit efforts. Schleider also led the team defensively with seven plays in the field.

Game 2: Herkimer 17, Jefferson 2

Game 2 saw Hugo Kohnhorst take center stage. The sophomore blasted two home runs — including a grand slam in the first inning — and finished with seven RBI as Herkimer ran away with a 17-2 win to complete the sweep.

Kohnhorst's grand slam opened the scoring floodgates, and Herkimer put up nine runs in the first inning alone. RBI knocks from Sanchez, Madrid, Severson, and Shiryu Sato rounded out the explosive start. In the second, Kohnhorst homered again — this time a two-run shot — and added a sac fly in the third to make it seven RBI on the day. The Generals added five more runs in the fourth, capped off by a three-run homer from Severson.

On the mound, sophomore Evan Staroba was dominant, striking out 11 over five innings while allowing just four hits and two runs to pick up the win.

The Generals tallied 15 hits overall in the second game. Severson and Schleider each had three hits, while Sanchez added two. Herkimer swiped four bases in each game.

Next Up: The Generals look to keep the momentum rolling in their upcoming weekend series at Columbia-Greene Community College. First pitch is set for 12:00 PM.