SwampBats Win Big 14-4
July 27, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
KEENE - The slumping SwampBats (17-23) offense finally broke out as they absolutely crushed the Valley Blue Sox (21-17) at a rocking Alumni Field, 14-4.
Keene tonight scored a season high 14 runs on 16 hits, which included three 3-run home runs from Dom Iero (Kent St.), Ryan Costello (Central Connecticut St.), and Patrick Sullivan (Georgia).
It was the first time all season that the âBats won a game by more than three runs.
The SwampBats jumped on Blue Sox starter Shane Ennis (West Virginia) early with the first three batters of the game reaching on two singles and a walk. Sullivan knocked in the first run of the game on a ball hit to the right side of the infield scoring Josh Shaw (St. John's).
Ennis was able to get out of a jam but little did he know the âBats would ready for him come the 2nd inning.
Garrett Christman (Butler) flew out for out number one in the second but from there it was open fire on Ennis. Jamal Wade (Maryland) roped his fifth double of the season into right field and Tommy LaCongo (St. Bonventure) brought him home on the next at bat to make 2-0. Shaw reached base safely on a fielder's choice and Iero crushed a 2-0 fastball over the right field fence, the deepest part of the field, to put the SwampBats ahead 5-0.
Costello completed Ennis' nightmare in 4th inning, annihilating the first pitch he saw well over the right-center fence making it 8-0.
Just because Ennis' night was over, it did not stall the âBats offense in anyway.
Conor Donovan (Lehigh) had the best night out of any Blue Sox pitcher, just allowing one earned run on the Costello sacrifice fly but Brennan Washington (Belmont) was the next Valley pitcher out and SwampBats offense started back up. Wade continued his hot night with a 2-run homer over the center field fence and Sullivan added another 3-run shot in the 8th to bring the run total to 14.
The best night of the season for the SwampBats offense overshadowed another solid pitching performance from Zach Hart (Franklin Pierce).
This was Hart's 4 start of the season against the Blue Sox and it was another gem.
Hart began the game facing the minimum through 2 2/3 innings pitched. All four hits he allowed were singles and only one Blue Sox runner reached scoring position. Overall, Hart tossed 6 scoreless innings and struck out 5 to just 2 walks.
The SwampBats bullpen had more wiggle room to work with than it has had lately but put in a solid night. Ivon Clough (Southern New Hampshire), Carmen Giampetruzzi (Boston Col.), and Michael LaBeau (Castleton St.) pitched a combined 3 innings, giving up 3 earned on 4 hits, and struck out 2 to no walks.
The win tonight puts the SwampBats just one game behind the Vermont Mountaineers (17-21) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Northern Division.
Keene will make its only visit to Fitch High tomorrow to take on the Mystic Schooners (24-14). The game can be heard live on the NECBL Broadcast Network and FM 104.1 and AM 1220 ESPN Keene.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 27, 2016
- Mainers Eek out Win, Extend Division Lead - Sanford Mainers
- SwampBats Win Big 14-4 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Media Release - Red-Hot Gulls Enter Season's Final Stretch - Newport Gulls
- SteepleCats Continue Dominance against Mountaineers - North Adams SteepleCats
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