Douglas Deals as Mainers Force Game Three
Published on August 4, 2022 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Sanford Mainers' R.C. Lichtenstein on the mound
(Sanford Mainers, Credit: Emmy Vitali)
SANFORD, Me. - Rise to the occasion
Following a game one loss to Vermont, the Mainers responded on the back of an eight-inning shutout performance by Ryan Douglas (UNC-Asheville) to force a decisive game three, 5-0. The right-hander limited the Mountaineers to just two hits and struck out eight.
Early in the contest, both sides had chances, most notably, Vermont had the bases loaded with one gone in third, but Douglas worked around the traffic.
In the fifth, the Moose had their own bases juiced situation with no one out and broke it open.
A single from Alex Knapp (George Mason) drove in Devan Bade (Binghamton). Then, a pair of excellent plate appearances from Cal Hewett (Vanderbilt) and Aidan Kane (Delaware) scored MJ Lucas (UNC-Asheville) and Kevin Skagerlind (UMass), 3-0.
Hewett and Kane both battled back from early deficits before working back-to-back full-count walks with the bases loaded.
An inning later in the sixth, Bade and Lucas were on the bases after a pair of walks and a throwing error advanced them to second and third for Skagerlind. The left fielder ricocheted a high chopper off the pitcher, Anthony DeFabbia (Stetson), and into right field, allowing both to score, 5-0.
It was all the offense the Mainers needed as Douglas continued to shove.
The North Carolina native made his way out for the ninth, but after one out, manager Nic Lops pulled him, and he received a curtain call from the Mainer fans. He finished with eight strikeouts, allowing just two hits and one walk.
Brian Craven (William & Mary) recorded the final two outs, including a strikeout of Matt Venuto (Fairfield) for the last out, sending Goodall Park into a frenzy.
It was the first playoff win at home since 2018 when the green and yellow defeated Keene in the Wild Card Round.
The two sides will travel back to Montpelier with a trip to the NECBL Championship on the line for game three at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Zachary Rodgers (UMass-Lowell) will get the nod on the mound.
Images from this story
 Sanford Mainers' R.C. Lichtenstein on the mound (Emmy Vitali) |
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 4, 2022
- Vermont Advances to NECBL Finals with 8-3 Win over Sanford - Vermont Mountaineers
- Vineyard Books Spot in Championship, Sanford Forces Game 3 - NECBL
- Douglas Deals as Mainers Force Game Three - Sanford Mainers
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