'Cats Withold Bay Sox in 8-5 Road Win Wednesday Night

June 26, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - After watching a six-run lead trimmed down to just two, North Adams held on late and managed to withhold a game-long charge from New Bedford, as the SteepleCats extended their win streak to three in a row with an 8-5 decision over the Bay Sox in a cross-divisional NECBL showdown on Wednesday night at Paul Walsh Field.

Despite the late-game dramatics, the SteepleCats (7-8) and their bullpen held on late, while the Bay Sox (4-10) had plenty of chances during their rally but wound stranding 12 runners on base to stifle their efforts.

But it was an early offensive onslaught that wound up being the difference on Wednesday night, as the SteepleCats took a 6-0 lead after three innings of work, getting to starter Nick Friar for four runs - three earned - over two-plus frames before tacking on two more against reliever Tucker Forbes, who lasted just four batters.

After that, however, New Bedford - who had scored the game's first run just three times in its previous 13 contests, staged a mighty rally over the remainder of the contest.

Starting with a run in each the third and the fourth, the Bay Sox made it a two-run contest with a pair in the fifth before one last tally came in the sixth, but after that the SteepleCat bullpen would settle down to will the visitors to a third consecutive victory.

Receiving the win out of the bullpen was sophomore righty Doug Willey (Franklin Pierce), who tossed 1 1/3 in relief allowing a hit, a walk and not much else, while classmate Joeanthony Rivera (Barry) picked up his first win of the year after holding off another rally from the Bay Sox in the ninth.

On offense, freshman Brad Anderson (Pepperdine) enjoyed his best night in a SteepleCat uniform, finishing 3-for-5 and a triple shy of the cycle while driving in three runs. He blasted his first home run in a SteepleCat uniform - a two-run jack in the second - and also drove in another on a double in the third, while both sophomore Daniel Bick (Georgia College) and freshman Kevin Martir (Maryland) finished with two hits apiece.

Outhitting the SteepleCats 12-10 on the night, Chris Travers finished 5-for-5 at the plate with three RBI while both Kurt Seiders and Chris Shaw tallied two hits for the home side.

Following a scoreless first, North Adams exploded for four runs in the second and two more in the third to grab an early 6-0 advantage. It was Anderson who started the onslaught with a two-run homer - his first in a SteepleCat uniform - to drive in the first two. Then following a walk, a single and an error, Bick pushed in a run on a base hit through the left side before a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman Jose Cuas (Maryland) made it 4-0 after two.

An inning later, the SteepleCats continued to tack on runs against reliever Tucker Forbes, who would leave the game after loading the bases against four batters, as Anderson came through with a run-scoring double before a sacrifice fly gave the 'Cats a 6-0 lead.

But that prompted New Bedford's slow rally; the Bay Sox clawed back with runs in both the third and fourth before chasing starter Julian Loret de Mola (Nova Southeastern) in the fifth. After a leadoff single and a walk, the Bay Sox came through with two more hits with two outs and runners in scoring position before Frey struck out the final batter of the inning to get out of the jam, but not before New Bedford cut the lead to 6-4.

Each side exchanged runs in the sixth, highlighted by junior Bryan Soloman (Eastern Kentucky) scoring from third on a throw down to second on a stolen base before the Bay Sox returned the favor with a two-out RBI bloop single, but for the second time in the game, the home side saw the final out of the inning thrown out at third to squash what could have been more.

Leading, 7-5, in the eighth, the North Adams bullpen quieted down the Bay Sox rally before freshman Kyle Richardson (Notre Dame) added one more late insurance run in a pinch hit role in the top of the ninth, settling for the final margin of victory.

The SteepleCats return home tomorrow (June 27) to welcome Western Division rival Danbury for the first time this season for a home Thursday night showdown. First pitch from Joe Wolfe Field is slated for 6:30 p.m.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 26, 2013


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