Ben Roberts Rallies Newport Gulls Past Ocean State Waves
July 13, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
South Kingston, RI - Right fielder Ben Roberts blasted a two-run homer, his first of the season, to spark a three-run rally in the seventh inning as the Newport Gulls defeated the Ocean State Waves 5-4 on the road at Old Mountain Field on Saturday, July 13.
Every Gull in the starting lineup except for designated hitter Steve Anderson recorded a hit as Newport racked up five runs on 12 hits. Newport improved to 17-8 with the victory, while Ocean State falls to 16-12 overall. The Gulls extended their lead over the Waves in the Eastern Division standings to two and a half games.
Newport right-hander Joe Iorio pitched a scoreless inning and two thirds working around a pair of hits while striking out two to pick up his first win of the season in relief. Gulls starter Mark McCoy picked up a no-decision in his first start of the season, giving up four runs on four hits while issuing a pair of walks and striking out four. Ocean State starter James Bessell took a no-decision after allowing two runs on nine hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Newport jumped out to the early lead plating a run in both the fourth and fifth inning before Ocean State got on the board in a big way thanks to a grand slam off McCoy by third baseman Caden Bailey on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the fifth inning.
The Gulls late rally was led by right fielder Ben Roberts, who finished the night 2-for-5 blasting a game-tying two-run homer, his first of the season. A hit batter and a pair of errors following Roberts' home run allowed Newport to push across the go-ahead run.
Ocean State had a chance to come back in the seventh inning, but Gulls reliever Sean Hartnett came on in relief of Iorio with the tying and go-ahead run in scoring position and got Bailey to fly out to left field to end the threat.
Outfielder Cody Jones led off the eighth inning with an infield single and got over to third base after a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Trace Tam Sing and a balk before Roberts struck out and third baseman Joel McKeithan grounded out to end the inning.
Hartnett struck out a pair of Waves, pitching a scoreless eighth inning before Kyle Wilcox came on to work the ninth inning in a save situation. Wilcox worked around a one-out single by Waves catcher Pat Quinn and a two-out single by right fielder Evan Ocello to record his fourth save of the season.
Newport will be back in action taking on the Laconia Muskrats at Robbie Mills Field on Sunday, July 14th. The Gulls will send right-hander Darin Gillies (0-0, 4.15 ERA) to the mound for his second start of the season.
Since moving to Newport in 2001, the Gulls have captured the New England Collegiate Baseball League championship, the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup, an NECBL-record five times, and in 2012 were named the No. 1 summer collegiate team in the country by Perfect Game USA in Perfect Game's Top 50 final rankings, capping a record-breaking season by Newport and marking the first time ever that an NECBL franchise has been ranked No. 1 nationally.
The Gulls, which attract more than 50,000 fans annually to historic Cardines Field in Newport, recruit players from the top college baseball programs in the country, and to date have sent six alumni to Major League Baseball teams, and over 150 players to professional baseball teams ranging from Independent leagues to Triple-A.
For more information, visit our website, www.newportgulls.com, and follow the team on Facebook and Twitter @NewportGulls.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 13, 2013
- Ben Roberts Rallies Newport Gulls Past Ocean State Waves - Newport Gulls
- Newport nips Waves, 5-4, on Saturday - Ocean State Waves
- Swamp BatâÃâ¬Ãâ¢s Win Streak Ends At Six, Fall To North Adams 5-4 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Burke Throws Complete Game Shutout - Valley Blue Sox
- Anderson's Two-Run Homer Lifts 'Cats to 5-4 Victory over Swamp Bats - North Adams SteepleCats
- Bay Sox Stifled by Mystic - New Bedford Bay Sox
- NECBL Has Stand out at Each Level of Baseball - NECBL
- Gulls Dominate in 8-1 Win vs. Danbury - Newport Gulls
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