Sports stats



Bay Sox Defeat Vermont, 3-1

July 24, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
New Bedford Bay Sox News Release


After a collision at the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning, Ryan Wolfsberg (Hamilton) drove in the game-winning runs with a double as New Bedford defeated Vermont 3-1 in a heated contest at Paul Walsh Field on Sunday night.

Andrew Penner (Los Angeles Valley) ripped a single to right field, but pinch-runner Robbie Doring (Dayton) was cut down at the plate after trying to score from second base. Doring collided with the catcher, which drew the ire of both teams and set off a scuffle at the dish. After the skirmish, which saw Doring and starting pitcher Samuel Nepiarsky getting ejected, Chandler Debrosse (Central Connecticut State) drew a walk, and both runners scored on Wolfsberg's double.

Sunday's contest started with a classic pitching duel, which has been a rarity in recent Bay Sox games. Both starting pitchers, New Bedford's Nepiarsky (UConn) and Vermont's Michael Fairchild, were dealing through the first four innings of play. Each pitcher allowed a single in the first inning, but both runners never reached second base, as Nepiarsky used a strikeout and a failed bunt attempt to end the top of the frame, while Fairchild utilized a strikeout and a 4-6-3 double play to erase leadoff man Penner from the bases. Nepiarsky was also the beneficiary of two great defensive plays from Danny DiMare (Santa Fe CC) in left field, as he made a sliding catch on a short fly ball to start the game, and then caught a deep shot that brought the sophomore from Medford, MA up against the wall.

Nepiarsky, who was dominant in his first three starts, had been scuffling on the mound prior to tonight's start, allowing eight runs in just 13 innings in his last three starts. The righty from Connecticut, who was one of four Bay Sox players to make the All-Star roster this season, struck out seven batters in his first five innings while retiring 11 straight Mountaineers. Vermont placed a runner at third base in the fifth, as Troy Scocca reached on a single that was lost in the shadows by Debrosse at short, stole second, and reached third on a balk. Scocca, who hit for the cycle in Vermont's 15-1 win over New Bedford on June 27th, was stranded 90 feet away, as Nepiarsky struck out the last two batters to end the threat.

Fairchild was equally dominant, striking out three Bay Sox hitters through the first four frames while erasing the two New Bedford baserunners thanks to two double plays off the bat of Jakob Goldfarb (Oregon). New Bedford put two runners on for the first time in the game, with Ted Shaw (Sacred Heart) getting hit by a pitch and DiMare singling to set up Alex Mata (St. Leo), who drove in Shaw with a single to left field to plate the first run of the game.

Vermont tied the game in the top of the sixth inning, as 9-hitter Jeremy McCuin lead off with a double to the right field wall. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and came home on a routine groundout to second base. They also put the leadoff runner on second in the seventh inning, as cleanup hitter Joe Tietjen doubled to left field. He could not advance to third as Scocca popped his bunt attempt up to Goldfarb behind the plate, and was doubled off on a hit-and-run attempt, as Debrosse caught a short fly ball and had plenty of time to double up Tietjen.

Wolfsberg, who has been New Bedford's best hitter all season long, ripped a double to right field to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Baldwin could not advance him after striking out, and Wolfsberg was cut down at third base on a grounder to short by Shaw.

Nepiarsky was lifted in the eighth inning after allowing a single and a hit batter with two outs. He was replaced by Matthew Leon (Seton Hall), who lasted pitched during Friday's wild 10-9 rain-shortened win over Mystic (yet due to the game being called his stats were not official). Nepiarsky's final line was 7.2 innings, one run, five hits, no walks, and eight strikeouts. It was the first time since the month of June that the UConn pitcher made it past the fifth inning, and he lowered his ERA to 2.51 on the year. Leon was able to induce a pop up to left field to strand two runners and keep the game tied.

Mata reached to start the eighth thanks to an error by fellow third baseman McCuin, and moved to second on a bunt by T.J. Dixon (Samford). Robbie Doring (Dayton) came in to pinch run for Mata, and when Penner singled to right field, Doring was cut down at home plate, which caused some fireworks. Doring ran into catcher Ryan Fineman, who was blocking the plate due to the throw from right coming up the line. After the collision, both players were jawing at each other, which caused both teams' benches to clear. Nepiarsky came down from the bullpen and shoved Fineman, and subsequently got tossed. Doring also was tossed for the second time this season, but the Bay Sox struck after the incident.

Darrien Ragins (Delaware State) came in to close out the game in the ninth inning, and was helped by the defense of Goldfarb behind the plate, as he made a terrific catch on a pop-up for the first out of the final frame. Goldfarb battled the breezy conditions in New Bedford before falling to the ground and somehow still made an acrobatic stab.

Ragins struck out two hitters in the ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season, while Leon was awarded the victory to move to 3-2 on the year. Nepiarsky was the First Citizens Player of the Game, as his 7.2 innings of one-run ball saved the Bay Sox bullpen and set the stage for the dramatic finish for New Bedford. With the victory, New Bedford moves to 18-19 on the season, and stays a half-game ahead of Danbury for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Southern Division.

The Bay Sox have their final day off of the season on Monday before embarking on a two-game road trip to Valley on Tuesday night and Mystic on Wednesday evening. Their next home game is on Thursday night against Plymouth.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 24, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central