OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg Jamestown Tarp Skunks shortstop Grady Mee turns a double play with Auburn Doubledays’ Bryce Moore sliding into second base during Game 1 of Sunday’s PGCBL West Division doubleheader at Diethrick Park in Jamestown.

JAMESTOWN — It was a case of woulda.

Coulda.

And, maybe, even shoulda for Jamestown on Sunday.

But as has often been the case this season, Auburn found a way.

Twice.

Closer Michael Sills struck out Alex Ahlstrom with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the Doubledays to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Tarp Skunks to complete the sweep of a Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League doubleheader at Diethrick Park.

Auburn won the first game 4-2 and now stands at 21-17 on the season, just a half game in front of Jamestown, which fell to 21-16-1.

The Tarp Skunks led 2-0 after five innings in the nightcap, riding a pair of sacrifice flies by Evan Fragela and Colin Houck and the pitching of starter Evan Verta and reliever Ryan Rafalski.

But the Doubledays finally got to Rafalski, the Warren native, in the top of the sixth.

With one out, Kevin Dolan reached first on an infield single and Sander — the 10th-place hitter — blooped a single to left. After Carson Gross was retired on a flyball for the second out, Hazel Martinez walked and then, with the bases loaded, AJ Wenrich doubled down the left-field line to clear the bases and give Auburn a one-run lead.

Winning pitcher Devin McWalters (1-1) kept Jamestown off the scoreboard in the sixth before giving way to Sills to start the seventh.

That’s when it got interesting.

After striking out Matt Thompson to open the inning, Sills gave up an infield single to Kieran Gagnon, retired Drew Garth on a lineout to right, issued a walk to Houck and an intentional walk to Connor Bendeck to load the bases, sending Ahlstrom to the plate. But Sills regained his composure to fan the Dunkirk, N.Y. native to end the game and record his sixth save.

Wenrich’s game-winner was the only extra-base hit for either team. McWatters and Sills combined on a five-hitter, struck out seven and walked two. Berta, who worked the first three innings, allowed one hit and struck out five, while Rafalski (1-2) pitched four innings, scattered three hits, struck out two and walked two.

Gagnon had two hits for the Tarp Skunks.

In the opener, Jamestown starter Evan Chaffee (2-3) pitched well in five of the six innings he was on the mound, but his second inning proved to be the difference, and the Doubledays made him pay.

After the Tarp Skunks took a 1-0 lead in the first inning — Fragela walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch — Auburn scored all the runs it would need in the four-run second inning.

In the frame, the Doubledays took advantage of three walks, a hit batter, an error and a two-run double by Martinez to build a lead they never relinquished.

Jamestown closed the gap to 4-2 in the fifth, courtesy of Cooper Munro’s home run over the left-field fence off winning pitcher Andrew Isdale (3-1), but the hosts wouldn’t score again.

Although they did have their chances in the sixth.

Fragela drew a leadoff walk off reliever Simon Aluko, was balked to second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. But rather than stop at third base, Fragela tried to score and was tagged out by Aluko, who was covering the plate.

In the seventh inning, Aluko struck out the side to earn his first save.

Martinez had two of the Doubledays’ three hits off Chaffee and reliever Luc Fuller, who pitched one scoreless inning.

The Tarp Skunks are off today, travel to Geneva for a doubleheader on Tuesday, play Geneva at home on Wednesday, travel to Niagara on Thursday and close out the regular season at home on Friday.

SATURDAY

TARP SKUNKS 18, NIAGARA 8

NIAGARA FALLS — Jamestown felt right at home Saturday night at Sal Maglie Stadium.

Darn comfortable, in fact.

All but one player had a hit and the Tarp Skunks scored 13 unanswered runs to post an 18-8 victory over Niagara.

Jake Kernodle led the 17-hit attack with three hits; and Grady Mee (triple), Luc Fuller, Zack Kent, Drew Garth (double) and Connor Bendeck all had two hits. Bendeck drove in four runs, Kieran Gagnon and Evan Fragela had three RBIs apiece, and Mee collected two.

Joe Reitebach (3-1) was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Will Saxenmeyer. Reitebach pitched 5 1/3 innings of three-hit ball, allowing one run, striking out seven and walking one.

Jamestown trailed 8-4 after four innings, but it scored a run in the fifth, three in the sixth, one in the seventh, three in the eighth and five in the ninth to win in a rout.

Andrew Bench (0-1), one of seven Power pitchers, took the loss. Andrew Fairbrother (double) and Jackson Strong had two hits apiece for Niagara.