Brigade Win Suspended Contest, 6-1, to Open Friday Doubleheader

Published on July 12, 2013 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Picking up a rain-suspended contest from June 30 that North Adams was already trailing in the top of the third inning, visiting Saratoga doubled its three-run lead with three more in the fifth inning, and that was enough to power the Brigade to a 6-1 victory over the SteepleCats in the first of two scheduled NECBL Western Division contests played at Joe Wolfe Field on Friday afternoon.

Falling for the fourth straight game, the SteepleCats (10-14) will look to stay out of the Western Division basement and split the day's doubleheader after the Brigade (12-9) took the opener to remain in second place in the West.

Saratoga scored the game's first six runs - with three of them coming in the top of the first back on June 30 - and added three more in the top of the fifth on Friday to cruise to a five-run victory, out-hitting North Adams, 6-4, on the afternoon.

After surrendering the game's first three runs - two earned - 12 days ago, junior Mike Murphy (Rider) wound up with the loss, finishing with two strikeouts and two walks in 2 2/3 frames. In relief, junior Anthony Mannuccia (Hartford) struck out five but gave up one run over 6 1/3 frames.

Both of their efforts were topped by Saratoga starter Adrian Benitez, who took advantage of his team's offensive showing and went the distance. The right-hander, who started originally back on June 30, finished with eight strikeouts and two walks while allowing four hits.

The Brigade struck for three early runs - two earned - on a two-RBI double off the bat of Matt Beaty before an error scored the third against Murphy in the top of the first inning, while Benitez retired six straight SteepleCats through the first and second inning, combined, to send the contest into the third.

After a leadoff error and a sacrifice bunt, Saratoga appeared ready to tack on another run in the top of the third, but with the infield drawn in, junior Cody Doyle (Cal State LA) snagged a ground ball near the right side, spun and fired to the plate to erase the lead runner.

Then after a stolen base pushed the runner into scoring position, lightning struck and the skies opened up, prompting the suspension of the game. When it finally did resume on Friday, Mannuccia got out of a two-on, two-out jam with a strikeout to send the game to the fourth.

Following a scoreless frame, the Brigade doubled their lead with another three-spot in the top of the fifth, as Mannuccia yielded an RBI single to Brian O'Keefe before letting up a two-RBI double to Brian Taylor, pushing the visitors ahead, 6-0.

After that, North Adams would only muster a single run in the bottom half of the frame, as freshman Kevin Martir (Maryland) doubled to lead things off before junior Joe Landi (Rhode Island) drove him home later in the frame.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 12, 2013


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