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Five-Run Fourth Powers Keene Past 'Cats, 5-3, Sunday Afternoon

July 14, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - After both starting pitchers worked a relatively effortless first three innings, Keene's bats exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth and that wound up being the difference in a 5-3 Swamp Bat victory over North Adams in a Sunday afternoon NECBL Western Division battle at Joe Wolfe Field.

After winning back-to-back games, the SteepleCats (12-15) fall back to three games under .500 and will embark on another important week ahead, facing primarily Western Division competition prior to the All-Star Game next Sunday. Winning their ninth game in 11 tries in the month of July, the Swamp Bats (12-13) overtake North Adams for fourth place in the West by virtue of the victory.

After both sides spread out their respective offenses in last night's 5-4 North Adams victory, Keene did all the damage it would need with five runs in the fourth before watching the SteepleCats make it a game with a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh, but James Connell kept it at that after entering the eighth and retiring the final five North Adams batters of the night.

SteepleCat starter *Trevor Scott (UC San Diego) *was fabulous through three innings but got roughed up in the fourth, finishing his day with five runs allowed on five hits, striking out three and walking one to fall to 1-1 on the summer. After him, sophomore *Toby Schwartz (Lafayette)* shined out of the bullpen, working a season-high three scoreless innings.

For Keene, right-hander Nicholas Kozlowski was stellar, picking up his first win of the summer with four strikeouts over six innings during which he let up one earned run. After him, Connell shut the door over the final 1 2/3 frames, notching his third save of the summer.

The inning of the game came in the fourth, as the Swamp Bats strung together five hits - including three in a row with runners in scoring position, to burst the game open. Leading the way were Tommy Monnot and Daniel Nichols, who each nailed back-to-back doubles to drive in three runs combined, while Robbie Cafiero tacked on one last hit to power in the fifth run of the frame.

The SteepleCats would get one back in the fifth inning after sophomore *John Razzino (Franklin Pierce)* doubled to lead off. Moments later, he would score on an errant throw to put the 'Cats on the board.

Following a scoreless sixth, the 'Cats got two more back in the seventh. Junior *Garrett Tuck (UC San Diego)* singled with one down to push Razzino over to third, and an error on a double play attempt allowed the latter to score. Then, later in the inning, a wild pitch brought in Tuck to make it a two-run contest, but reliever Jordan Simons got a strikeout and induced a grounder to end it.

From there on out, the 'Cats would put just one more man on base, as eight of the final nine batters would be set down by the Swamp Bats to close out the match.

The SteepleCats will enjoy an off day Monday before returning to the diamond on Tuesday, July 16, traveling to Saratoga for the first time this summer. First pitch from East Side Recreation Field is set for 6:30 p.m.

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