Gray hurls six scoreless innings as Waves snap two-game slide
July 30, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Ocean State Waves News Release
NEWPORT R.I.-Entering Thursday's doubleheader against the Newport Gulls on a two-game losing streak, the Ocean State Waves needed a big victory to stay afloat in the NECBL Southern Division playoff hunt. Backed behind six shutout innings from Ryan Gray (Trinity TX) and ten hits from the offensive unit, the Waves coasted past the Gulls, 7-0, in front of 103 fans at Cardines Field.
After two innings in which the Waves stranded runners in scoring position, Ocean State struck first with three runs in the top of the third. Facing Gulls starter Michael Bono (Santa Clara), Ryan Blanton (Georgia State) set the offensive tempo with a leadoff double. Blanton came around to score on an RBI single by Dylan Burdeaux (Southern Mississippi). Two batters later, Chuckie Robinson (Southern Mississippi) blasted his eighth home run of the summer off the tree in left-center, giving the Waves a 3-0 advantage.
While the Waves offense emerged against Bono, Gray dealt strikes against the Gulls lineup. Gray allowed just two hits over six innings of work, striking out two batters. The only two Gulls to connect for base hits against Gray were Liam Sabino (Vanderbilt) with an infield single that ricocheted off the back of Gray, as well as Joven Afenir (Kansas) in the top of the sixth.
The Waves continued their offensive onslaught in the top of the fourth. Mike Corin (Rhode Island) and Jake Palomaki (Boston College) worked walks against Bono to start the frame. Both runners scored on a throwing error by Bono, expanding the Waves lead to 5-0.
In the top of the fifth, the Waves kept on rolling against Bono and the Gulls. With one out, AJ Ramirez (USC) rocketed his first triple of the summer to the triangle in right center, ultimately scoring on an RBI single by Nick Dawson (Southern Mississippi). Facing a new pitcher in Bradley Wilpon (Pennsylvania), the Waves tacked on one more run courtesy of a run-scoring double play off the bat of Tim Lynch (Southern Mississippi) to put the Waves ahead, 7-0.
After six sterling innings from Gray, the Waves turned to Matt Murphy (Assumption) to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Despite yielding a leadoff single to Sean Bouchard (UCLA), Murphy struck out Mike Allwein (Roger Williams) and induced a ground ball double play to secure the 7-0 victory for the Waves.
Two hours later, the Waves and Gulls tried to play Game Two of the doubleheader at Old Mountain Field. The Gulls scored first on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jon Littell (Oklahoma State) in the top of the first, while the Waves tied up the score on a solo home run by Robinson in the bottom of the second. Strong starting pitching by Gulls starter Colton Hock (Stanford) and Waves hurler Johnny Amendola (Northeastern) kept the score tight throughout the ballgame. With the score tied at one along with two outs in the top of the sixth, severe rain showers forced a rain delay, ultimately resulting in the game to be suspended. Stay tuned to OceanStateWaves.com or any Ocean State Waves social media page to find out when the rain-shortened game will be resumed.
While the second game of the twin bill hangs in the balance, the Waves currently possess a 20-19 record, sitting a game behind the New Bedford Bay Sox for third in the NECBL Southern Division. Since the Bay Sox edged out the Plymouth Pilgrims, 7-1, the magic number for the Waves to clinch a playoff berth stands at just one. An Ocean State victory against the Bay Sox on Friday or a loss in either game of a doubleheader for the Pilgrims against the Danbury Westerners would secure a playoff berth for the Waves for the third straight summer.
The Waves return to action on Friday with a pivotal game against the New Bedford Bay Sox at Paul Walsh Field. Geoff Murphy (Boston College) makes his fourth start of the summer for the Waves, while the Bay Sox counter with Charlie Dant (Dayton). Tune in online as Tim Scott and Tom Porter bring you the call on the NECBL Broadcast Network. First pitch is set for 6:30 in New Bedford.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 30, 2015
- Gray hurls six scoreless innings as Waves snap two-game slide - Ocean State Waves
- Swamp Bats Win 6-5 Over Blue Sox for Third Straight Victory - Keene Swamp Bats
- Gulls Fall to Pilgrims 3-2 at Cardines Field - Newport Gulls
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