Gulls Sweep Double Header with Pilgrims
July 28, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I.-Entering Monday's doubleheader against the Plymouth Pilgrims on a three-game losing streak, the Newport Gulls were looking to turn things around against their rivals in the NECBL Southern Division. With solid pitching and key offensive contributions, the Gulls swept the doubleheader, winning Game One by a 6-2 margin while taking Game Two with a final score of 2-0. Both games were played in front of a crowd of 2,509 fans at Cardines Field.
In Game One of the doubleheader, the Newport Gulls turned to Mick Van Vossen to make his fifth start of the summer. Despite allowing two runs in the first inning, the senior from Michigan State went seven innings, allowing six hits while striking out five batters. Van Vossen also secured the first complete game of the season for the Gulls pitching staff.
Facing Pilgrims starter Aaron Fossas, the Gulls offense was able to explode in the early going. With one out in the bottom of the first, Ben Roberts launched his fourth home run of the season over the right field fence to get the Gulls within one of the Pilgrims lead. However, in the bottom of the third, Roberts unleashed on another offering from Fossas, propelling his second home run of the game to right field. Three batters later, P.J. Jones blasted his first home run of the season to center, putting the Gulls ahead 3-2.
The Gulls offense continued its consistency in the bottom of the sixth. Riding a momentum boost after Roberts threw out Daniel Swain at home plate to end the top half of the inning the Gulls scored three more runs against Fossas. RBI singles by Anthony Lyons and Tommy Edman, as well as an infield fly rule-turned-error by shortstop Mike Parisi boosted the Gulls lead to 6-2.
Van Vossen continued his dominance in the top of the seventh, retiring the side to end the game. Van Vossen struck out pinch-hitter Matt Walsh to end the game, snapping the Gulls' three-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over the Plymouth Pilgrims.
In the nightcap, the Newport Gulls jumped on Pilgrims starterDylan Cummiskey, scoring twice in the bottom of the second. The Gulls were able to corral RBI doubles from Tyler Green and Reed Gamache, which enabled them to take an early 2-0 lead. In the first four innings, the Gulls were able to secure seven hits against Cummiskey, who hails from Warwick, Rhode Island.
Getting the start for the Newport Gulls in Game Two was Johnathon Tripp, who shined in his fourth start of the summer. The junior from Texas Tech allowed no runs on five hits, striking out three batters in five innings of work. There were five innings in which Tripp dealt with a runner on base, but he was able to successfully evade each jam, maintaining a 2-0 lead for the Gulls intact for a good portion of the game.
With six shutout innings under his belt, Tripp emerged on the mound in the seventh to secure the first complete game shutout for the Gulls pitching staff in 2014.
Tripp retired the side, including getting David Murphy to end the game, clinching a 2-0 victory for the Gulls.
The Gulls improve their 2014 NECBL record to 20-16, jumping closer to the Pilgrims by a two game margin in the NECBL Southern Division standings. The Gulls still stand in fourth place, trailing the Pilgrims by 6 1/2 games, and the Ocean State Waves and Mystic Schooners (who both were idle on Monday) by a game. The Gulls also improve to 4-1 on the season against the Pilgrims, with the season finale between the two teams taking place on August 1 at Forges Field.
Meanwhile, the Gulls will play an unofficial doubleheader between two ballparks on Tuesday. Starting at 12 pm, Cardines Field will host the Gulls and the North Adams SteepleCats in a game that was originally scheduled for July 23 at Joe Wolfe Field. John Kilichowski (1-1, 0.92 ERA) will get the start for the Gulls. Tune into at 12 pm, as Nick Lima, Tom Alsip, and Jiyon Ruffin will cover the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network. The Gulls also play the New Bedford Bay Sox in a regularly scheduled contest at Paul Walsh Field. That game is slated to begin at 6:30 pm.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 28, 2014
- Keene Swamp Bats vs. North Adams SteepleCats Game Suspended - Keene Swamp Bats
- Mountaineers Drop Game One, Game Two Suspended - Vermont Mountaineers
- Gulls Sweep Double Header with Pilgrims - Newport Gulls
- Double Header Between Sanford And Vermont Goes Unfinished - Sanford Mainers
- NECBL Weekly Roundup - NECBL
- Gulls to honor Mark Weed at July 30 home game - Newport Gulls
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