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'Cats Stun Saratoga with Late Rally in Walk-Off 6-5 Win Friday Night

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


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - In danger of dropping its fifth game in a row after trailing by two runs heading to the ninth, North Adams benefitted from four hit by pitches and two walks - including a game-winning base on balls - all against Saratoga closer Cameron Tekker as part of a stunning, ninth-inning rally that saw the SteepleCats claw all the way back to top the Brigade, 6-5, to split a day-night NECBL Western Division doubleheader on Friday night at Joe Wolfe Field.

After dropping the earlier game and trailing by four runs heading to the seventh, the SteepleCats (11-14) made it interesting with a two-spot in the bottom of the eighth before the game unraveled for the Brigade (12-10) in the ninth.

Still down by two, Tekker - who had been brilliant entering the night - started things off by plunking sophomore Daniel Bick (Georgia College).Then, he followed it up with a free pass before loading the bases with nobody out on another hit batsmen.

With the bases juiced, Tekker got his only out of the night - a strikeout - but still faced a bases-loaded, one-out jam. That was when his control got away again, plunking both freshman Brad Anderson (Pepperdine) to draw in a run, and then also hitting junior Garrett Tuck (UC San Diego) to tie the match at 5-5.

Stepping to the box with a chance to win the game on a fly ball, sophomore John Razzino (Franklin Pierce) promptly worked a full count against the erratic right-hander and watched the final pitch of the night miss inside, handing the 'Cats a walk-off walk in stunning fashion.

The late-game heroics rescued sophomore Casey Brown (Central Connecticut), who was on the hook most of the night after giving up four runs - three earned - on eight hits over just 3 1/3 innings. Out of the bullpen, sophomore Joeanthony Rivera (Barry) picked up his second win of the year after tossing a perfect ninth.

Tekker, meanwhile, spoiled the efforts of starter Nick Cioffi, who was impressive through 5 2/3 innings, striking out three while giving up just one earned run on five hits during that span.

Two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh also factored into the decision, as an inning-extending error at second wound up allowing two to score, as junior Bryan Soloman (Eastern Kentucky) tallied an RBI during that span after Bick earlier scored on the aforementioned miscue.

That, however, made it a two-run ballgame, and the visiting Brigade still were in control heading to the ninth before it all fell apart.

North Adams also spoiled an early onslaught of Brigade runs, as the visitors went ahead 4-1 thanks to two runs in the first and two more in the third, as both Dylan Butler and Duncan Wendel tallied RBI base knocks to push the visitors ahead, 4-1.

Saratoga would later make it a 5-1 lead on a run-scoring double by Zachary Zott in the seventh, but North Adams hung around with the two runs in the seventh before the dramatics in the ninth.

The SteepleCats continue a four-game homestand tomorrow, July 13, when they welcome Keene to town. First pitch from Joe Wolfe Field is set for 6:30 p.m.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 12, 2013


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