Connecticut Falls 7-6 to West Virginia

August 1, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Norwich Sea Unicorns News Release

NORWICH, CT - Shane Zeile hit a three-run homerun as part of a six-run second inning, but the Connecticut Tigers (18-21) fell to the West Virginia Black Bears (22-19) in a back-and-forth ballgame Saturday night at Dodd Stadium.

The Black Bears batted around in the first inning, jumping to a 4-0 lead on a two-run double to left by Ryan Nagle, an RBI double to deep right by Albert Baur, and Casey Houghton's RBI single to centerfield.

The Tigers bounced back by batting around as well in the second, scoring six runs on four hits with the aid of two Black Bear errors. Zeile's blast to deep left cut the Tiger deficit to one run. Connecticut then took the lead when Cam Gibson lined an RBI single down the right field line to score Steven Fuentes with the tying run. Victor Padron also scored when second baseman Kevin Kramer mishandled the throw from right-fielder Ryan Nagle on Gibson's attempt to stretch his hit to a double. Gibson advanced to third on the error as well and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Will Allen.

The Black Bears snuck a run home in the fourth when Kevin Newman got in a rundown between first in second after Kramer smashed a one-hopper to Allen at first. Allen tagged first before throwing to second, with Newman caught in a pickle long enough to allow Christian Kelley to cross the plate before the final out of the inning.

West Virginia took the lead for good in the sixth with the benefit of two Connecticut errors. Mitchell Tolman tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left, and Casey Hughston raced around from second with the winning run when AJ Simcox's throw to first pulled Allen off the bag on a ground ball by Kramer.

Drew Smith pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, walking none and striking out four - including the side in order in the ninth. However, Jerry Muldering, Daniel Zamora, Tate Scioneaux, and Cesilio Pimentel combined for 7.2 shutout innings of relief. Zamora earned his first career win with two scoreless innings, and Pimentel locked down his second save, stranding the tying and go-head runs on base in both the eighth and ninth innings.

New York-Penn League Stories from August 1, 2015

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• Errors Doom Yankees in 7-5 Loss - Staten Island Yankees
• Scrappers win 7-4 - Mahoning Valley Scrappers
• Connecticut Falls 7-6 to West Virginia - Norwich Sea Unicorns
• 'Dogs Pound Cyclones 10-3 - Brooklyn Cyclones
• Ockimey Leads Spinners to Win, 5-4 - Lowell Spinners
• Spikes Squander Early Lead in 5-4 Loss to Spinners - State College Spikes
• Cutters Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short against Vermont - Williamsport Crosscutters
• Vermont Holds On For 4-3 Win At Williamsport - Vermont Lake Monsters
• Roa's Big Day Not Enough as 'Cats Fall to Scrappers 7-4 - Tri-City ValleyCats
• Renegades Drop a Close One To Auburn - Hudson Valley Renegades
• State College Spikes Game Notes - August 1 vs. Lowell - State College Spikes

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