SAUGERTIES, NY - Hope can bear heartbreak. 

Boonville (17-18-1) scored two runs in the top of the ninth to force an extra half inning, but Saugerties (23-12-1) sealed the contest with a walk-off sacrifice fly to cement Boonville’s 5-4 defeat. The loss marked the squad’s eight straight and second walk-off defeat in its past three affairs.

The Lumberjacks’ loss mirrored the walk-off loss they sustained against the Diamond Dawgs July 18. 

Closer Riley Hasenstab stepped onto the mound looking to secure the Lumberjacks’ victory, but he faltered yet again. The Georgia Tech rising sophomore allowed a single and hit a Stallions’ batter to open the bottom of the ninth. 

The Duluth, Georgia, local attempted to pick off the lead runner at second, throwing a ball into the infield dirt that passed infielder Angel Santiago. Both Saugerties baserunners advanced into scoring position with zero outs. 

Hassentab threw an inaccurate pickoff try in the defeat to Mohawk Valley, which plated two runs to tie the game. 

And the runners that advanced on the wild throw would represent the two game-winning runs for the Stallions. 

After committing the blunder, the right-handed pitcher hit his second batter of the inning, tying the game.

In the subsequent at-bat, Saugerties first baseman Dylan Passo drove a pitch into the outfield to plate the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly. 

But the relief arsenal’s shortcomings didn’t reflect Boonville's batting effort. 

Newcomers always have an awkward adjustment phase to new environments.

Yet, catcher Connor Larsen has excelled despite joining the Lumberjacks just last week, a move coach Jay Gonzalez made to address the departures of Jacob Newland and Bo Jonas. 

Larsen gave the Lumberjacks a chance to emerge victorious after plating two runners on an infield single with the team down to its final strike. 

Pinch runner Sebastian Burgos rounded third base and followed Santiago to home plate despite the ball remaining in the infield. Saugerties second baseman Casey Cumiskey focused on the potential game-clinching out at first base that he missed rather than noticing Burgos’ dash home. 

The Fort Hays graduate met an exuberant crowd that charged out to home plate, and he sprinted into the dugout with an entourage of screaming and leaping Lumberjacks following him.

The Stallions’ pitching staff had held the Lumberjacks hitless for five straight innings prior to the ninth. 

But the lineup’s efforts weren’t enough to secure Boonville’s first victory since July 9. 

The Lumberjacks now sit over a game out of playoff contention behind the fourth-place Diamond Dawgs in the East Division. 

Boonville will face the division-leading Amsterdam Mohawks tomorrow night at Rao Family Stadium.