“We’ve had some crazy ball games with Southwestern over the years,” Dunkirk head coach Frank Jagoda said. “Jared (Brown) does an outstanding job with his players. They never quit.”

The Marauders (11-1, 7-1) led 4-1 entering the bottom of the seventh before the Trojans (3-5, 3-4) started to rally.

Alex Watkins singled down the third-base line to open the frame and two batters later, Judd Harris reached on an infield single. Wilson Genareo followed with a single to right field to load the bases.

George Marshall then hit a deep fly ball to center field that got behind Dunkirk’s outfield to plate two runs and chase Marauders starting pitcher Josh Lemanski from the game.

OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman Marauders starting pitcher Josh Lemanski delivers to the plate.

“He came through,” Southwestern head coach Jared Brown said of Marshall. “I wish we could’ve executed the squeeze bunt.”

Greg Orcutt took over on the mound and walked Oscar Harris to load the bases. On the first pitch to Cooper Charles, Wilson Genareo broke for home and nearly slid in safely before Charles fouled off a bunt attempt.

“I think Wilson would’ve been safe just stealing home,” Brown said.

“Greg went from the windup on the first one. He didn’t realize it,” Jagoda said. “Fortunately for us, the kid fouled the ball off.”

The teams reloaded for the second pitch, but this time Orcutt’s offering was too far outside to bunt and Genareo was thrown out in a rundown between third and home.

OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman Dunkirk catcher Gabe Valentine throws to first base for an out during the third inning of Thursday’s CCAA Division 1 baseball game against Southwestern at Packard Field in Lakewood.

“The outside pitch was certainly on purpose. I was surprised that he did it twice in a row,” Jagoda said of the squeeze play. “I know he squeezed yesterday so we were a little bit ready for it.”

Charles then reached on an infield single to load the bases again, but Orcutt induced a ground ball to second base that ended the game.

“Those are the little things we need to button up. Having a young team and not playing nonleague games, being able to execute those things in game scenarios is tough,” Brown said. “We’re going to have to grow from this.”

Lemanski earned the win in 6 1/3 innings on the mound. He allowed 10 hits and three runs while striking out nine. Orcutt earned the save by securing the final two outs.

“We were contemplating throwing Greg today, but we didn’t want to start him today,” Jagoda said. “That was their fourth time around and they’re a good hitting team. They don’t quit.”

Southwestern took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Wilson Genareo doubled with one out and moved to third on a groundout before Oscar Harris hit an RBI single. Charles followed with an infield single, but Lemanski got out of the inning on a comebacker to the mound.

The Trojans stranded two more runners in the second inning and finished the game with nine left on base.

“That’s been a thorn in our side the last couple of games, leaving guys on base,” Brown said. “Watching third strikes has been a big thorn in our sides as well.”

The Marauders took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning with a pair of unearned runs. Henry Leone reached second on a one-out error and a two-out error allowed him to score the tying run. Alex Biscaro then singled to put runners at first and third. With Gabe Valentine at the plate, Biscaro took off for second and when a throw from Southwestern’s catcher was dropped, pinch-runner Jayden Neallard raced home with Dunkirk’s second run.

“It’s the little things and the errors … we can’t continue to give good teams four or five outs in an inning when our pitcher is throwing ground balls,” Brown said. “We should make plays for them.”

The Marauders added another unearned run in the fifth inning. Lemanski walked to open the frame and went to second on a wild pitch. After a flyball to right field moved him to third, he scored on another Trojans error.

The unearned runs tagged Southwestern freshman Lucas Genareo with the loss, but the right-hander pitched deserved a better outcome. He threw a complete-game four-hitter with seven strikeouts and four walks. Just one of the four runs he allowed was earned.

“I’m extremely proud of the way he pitched. He never let his guard down and he continued to go out there and fight,” Brown said. “For the most part, he didn’t walk too many guys and he threw a pretty good game.”

The Trojans will host Fredonia this afternoon while Dunkirk will travel to Allegany-Limestone with a chance to clinch at least a share of the league title.

“We’re in a good spot right now,” Jagoda said.