Ocean State Waves beat Mountaineers
June 11, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Ocean State Waves News Release
Ocean State Waves vs. Vermont Mountaineers
(Ocean State Waves)
MONTPELIER, V.T.-Coming off a three day rest following last Saturday's loss to the Mystic Schooners, the Waves needed a strong showing against the Vermont Mountaineers to return to the .500 plateau. Behind solid pitching and a two-run home run from Tim Lynch (Southern Mississippi), the Waves edged out the Mountaineers, 3-1, in front of 755 fans at Montpelier Recreation Field.
The Waves jumped on the board first with two runs in the top of the third. Facing Mountaineers starter Billy Whaley (Norwich), the Waves started the inning with a leadoff walk from Nick Dawson (Southern Mississippi). After two quick outs, Lynch launched a towering shot over the right field fence to put the Waves ahead of the Mountaineers, 2-0.
Getting the start for the Waves was right-hander Blaise Whitman (Rhode Island). In his first start of the summer, Whitman established a firm grip over the game with five shutout innings. Whitman allowed just three hits while striking out five Mountaineers hitters. In addition to his prowess over the strike zone, Whitman retired eight straight batters between the first and third innings.
Whitman ran into trouble in the bottom of the third, when the Mountaineers got runners into scoring position. After two quick outs, Whitman allowed a double to second baseman Thomas Roulis (Dartmouth). Roulis, who had three hits on the night, advanced to third after an error by shortstop Alex King (Saint Louis). With runners on second and third, Whitman struck out shortstop Garrett Copeland (Austin Peay) to evade the jam.
After five shutout innings from Whitman, Corey Randall (UNC-Asheville) came into the game for the Waves. Randall was sharp in his second appearance of the summer; the righty went two innings, only allowing a walk to Laren Eustace (Louisville) in the seventh.
In the top of the sixth, the Waves came close to adding more insurance runs against the Mountaineers. With Chuckie Robinson (Southern Mississippi) and Mike Corin (Rhode Island) standing on second and first, Griffin Helms (Kennesaw State) laced a shot into right field for a base hit. Robinson tried to score from second, but a laser throw from Eustace in right field nailed Robinson at the plate, ending the inning while keeping the Waves ahead, 2-0.
Following an efficient relief outing from Randall, the Waves turned to left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady (Kennesaw State) for his third straight relief outing. Lovelady retired the first two batters he faced, but a walk to Mike Bozarth (Saint Louis) set things up for Copeland. The shortstop drilled a shot in the gap in left-center to score Bozarth from first, bringing the Mountaineers within one of the Waves. In an effort to end the rally, Waves manager Eric Cirella brought in closer David Gerber (Creighton) to get a four-out save. Gerber struck out catcher Ridge Smith (Austin Peay) to end the inning, keeping the Waves ahead, 2-1.
The Waves offense was kept at bay due to the efforts of several Mountaineers relievers. Southpaw Teddy Rodliff (Stony Brook) allowed just a walk in 2.2 innings of work, Adam Seibert (Hofstra) let up a hit and a walk in 1.1 innings, and Drew Lunde (Washington State) struck out two batters in his inning of work.
However, in the top of the ninth, the Waves offense cashed in on an insurance run opportunity. With new pitcher Austin Foote (Indiana) on the hill, the Waves got the ball rolling with a leadoff single from Helms. King moved Helms over with a sacrifice bunt, which was followed by a walk to Dawson. With just one out, Jake Palomaki (Boston College) reached on a fielder's choice that scored Helms from second, giving the Waves a 3-1 advantage.
Gerber returned to the mound for the bottom of the ninth. Retiring the next two batters he faced, Isaiah Pasteur (Indiana) reached on an infield single to first, keeping the Mountaineers alive for one last-bat. However, pinch-hitter Kevin Stypulkowski (Maine) popped out to Gerber on the mound, preserving a 3-1 victory for Ocean State.
The Waves improve to 2-2 on the season with both of those wins coming on the road. As a team, the Waves cranked out five hits while the pitching staff combined to strike out nine Mountaineers hitters. Corin reached base four times, while Palomaki and Robinson reached base three times in the victory.
With their fourth day off in five days on Thursday, the Waves return to the action on Friday as they travel to Cardines Field to face the Newport Gulls in the first game of the 2015 Pell Bridge Rivalry. Mason Perryman (Southern California) will make his debut for the Waves, while the Gulls counter with former Wave Hunter Schryver (Villanova). Tune into online as Tim Scott and Rob Masse bring you the call on the NECBL Broadcast Network. First pitch is set for 6:35 in Newport.
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 Ocean State Waves vs. Vermont Mountaineers |
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 11, 2015
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