KEUKA PARK, NY— With the score knotted at four in the bottom of the eighth inning, Keuka Wolves leadoff hitter Brooks Vertoske hit a sacrifice fly to right field, plating the game-winning run to defeat the Houghton Highlanders, 5-4.
 
Keuka jumped out to a 4-1 lead by the fourth inning, thanks to six hits and some sloppy defense by the Highlanders.
 
In the top of the fifth, David Wessells lit the Houghton fuse with a leadoff homerun to right, and Wayne Rode followed with another homerun to the same spot two batters later, cutting the Wolves lead to one.
 
Houghton tied the game in the seventh with some small ball.  Whitney Cook drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a fly ball to centerfield then scored on a Rode base hit.
 
In the eighth, Houghton left two runners on base but could not score the go ahead run.
 
After Keuka pulled ahead in the bottom of the eighth, Wessells led off with a base hit to right to start the ninth.  He quickly stole second on the first pitch then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Newswanger.  With only one out, Keuka closer Tyler Key induced a popup then struck out the final batter to close the books on the Highlander comeback.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Houghton - 4 | Keuka - 5
Records: Houghton: 10-18 | Keuka: 16-13
Venue: Kuhl Field, Keuka Park, NY | Attendance: 85
 
KEY STATS:
>> Wessells posted his 13^th multi-hit game of the year, collecting two hits and boosting his season average to .376.
 
>> Rode went 3-for-5, the third time this season he has knocked out three hits in a game and his seventh multi-hit game of the season.
 
>> Both teams collected 10 hits, but the Highlanders committed four fielding errors while the Wolves made only one.
 
>> Griffin Tubbs lowered his season-ERA to 3.04, tossing two scoreless innings of relief.  He has thrown a team-high 50.1 innings this season.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"Our guys battled to the end.  We put ourselves in a position to tie the game in the final frame, but couldn't get it done.
 
"We put ourselves in a hole early, but David [Wessells] woke us up with his shot to right, and Wayne [Rode] followed suit to put us right back in it.
 
"I thought we had three very good pitching performances today.  Holden [Deres] and Nick [Melchiore] looked far more comfortable than I've seen them in a while.  They attacked hitters and kept them off balance.  That was great to see.  And [Griffin] Tubbs just kept rolling.  He's been outstanding all year long.
 
"Keuka is well coached and disciplined.  They didn't make many mistakes, and they certainly capitalized on ours.  They played a very good game and did it the right way.  Hat's off to them." –Coach Brian Reitnour 
 
 UP NEXT: Houghton returns to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex this Friday for the opening doubleheader of a four-game set with the Stevens Ducks.  First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.