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Anderson's Two-Run Homer Lifts 'Cats to 5-4 Victory over Swamp Bats

July 13, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Freshman Brad Anderson (Pepperdine) blasted his second homer of the year a - two-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth inning - that wound up being the difference, as North Adams withheld Keene down the stretch to pick up its first win of the year against the Swamp Bats, 5-4, in an NECBL West showdown on Saturday night at Joe Wolfe Field.

Winners of back-to-back contests after a comeback win last night, the SteepleCats (12-14) tallied 10 hits and took an early three-run lead before the Swamp Bats (11-13), who had won six straight entering the night, clawed to within a run but were kept in check the rest of the way.

After junior Garrett Tuck (UC San Diego) had already driven in a run earlier in the inning, Anderson came to bat with a runner aboard and two outs in the bottom of the fifth with the 'Cats leading by a run. But the rookie first baseman smashed his second jack of the year over the left field wall that granted the home side a 5-2 lead.

The resilient Swamp Bats, who were 8-1 in the month of July entering Saturday, would claw back with four hits in the top of the sixth against North Adams starter Mike Murphy (Rider), including an RBI single from Robbie Cafiero before the second run came in on a wild pitch.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, though, rookie right-hander Mark Reece (Nevada) induced an inning-ending double play to retire the side, and from there on out, the SteepleCat bullpen kept the visitors at bay to clinch the one-run win.

Murphy would wind up with the victory (3-2) after tossing 5 1/3 frames, surrendering four runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking four. After Reece, southpaw Steve Frey (Monmouth), righty Doug Willie (Franklin Pierce) and, ultimately, sophomore Joeanthony Rivera (Barry) all combined to quiet the Bats over the final three innings, while Rivera notched his third save of the year with a two-strikeout ninth.

Right-hander David Sosebee fell to 1-2 after giving up five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. The reliever behind him, Sam Triece, was excellent over the remaining 3 1/3 innings, yielding just one hit with three strikeouts over that span.

Both sides went back and forth in the early goings, as North Adams grabbed an early lead with an RBI single from Anderson - who finished with three RBI - in the first. Keene would respond with a game-tying base knock from Cafiero in the second, but the 'Cats answered with another run on a run-scoring triple from freshman Kyle Richardson (Notre Dame), who finished with a double and a run scored, as well.

Keene would again answer thanks to an RBI double from JP Sportman to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth, but North Adams came right back with the three-spot in the home half of the frame, as Richardson led things off with a double and scored on Tuck's RBI single before Anderson left the yard.

The SteepleCats will conclude their season-high four-game homestand tomorrow, July 14, once again welcoming Keene to the Berkshires. First pitch from Joe Wolfe Field is set for 4:30 p.m.

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