Gulls Win Third Straight, Top North Adams 4-1
Published on July 29, 2014 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - Coming off a sweep of a doubleheader against the Plymouth Pilgrims, the Newport Gulls were looking to continue their recent success when they hosted the North Adams SteepleCats in a makeup game from July 23. Even though the Gulls had to bat as the away team at their own ballpark, 300 fans watched as the Gulls won their third straight game, defeating the SteepleCats, 4-1.
In his fourth start of the summer, John Kilichowski dazzled by turning in one of the finest pitching performances of any pitcher in NECBL competition this season. The southpaw from Vanderbilit threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 12 batters. His twelve strikeouts are the most by any NECBL pitcher during the 2014 season, ranking just ahead of Mick Van Vossen's 11 relief strikeouts back on June 11.
The Gulls offense jumped on SteepleCats starter Nathan Foriest in the top of the third, securing four runs on five hits in the inning. Paced by a leadoff double by Tommy Edman and sacrifice bunt attempt by Ben Roberts (which resulted in a throwing error by Foriest), the Gulls had two runners on when Blaise Salter drove home his 33rd run of the season on an RBI single. In the next at-bat, Tyler Green blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence at Cardines Field, putting the Gulls ahead, 4-0.
Kilichowski continued his dominance over the SteepleCats lineup in the later innings. Only allowing his first hit on a double by Vinny Siena in the bottom of the fourth, Kilichowski had multiple innings in which he struck out at least two batters. In the bottom of the sixth, Kilichowski struck out the side, even with Siena standing at third base.
After Kilichowski's outing ended in the seventh, Gulls manager Mike Coombs brought in Armand Rugel to finish the door in the first game of the split-doubleheader for the Gulls. Rugel ran into trouble in the bottom of the eighth, allowing a bloop base hit by Ryan Kahl that enabled Siena to score from second. Despite this early obstacle, Rugel retired four of the next five batters he would face, including a lineout from pinch-hitter Thomas Delph to end the game, giving the Gulls a 4-1 victory.
With the win, the Gulls improve to 21-16 on the season, increasing their winning streak to three games. The Gulls look to continue their winning streak on Tuesday night, when they travel to Paul Walsh Field to battle the New Bedford Bay Sox in the second game of the split-doubleheader. Mark McCoy (1-1, 4.74 ERA) will make his first start of the summer for the Gulls, while the Bay Sox counter with Brandon Cook (1-3, 5.53 ERA). First pitch is slated for 6:30, as Nick Lima and Tom Porter will cover the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network. The Gulls will return home on Wednesday to host the Bay Sox for the final time in 2014.
For more information about the Newport Gulls, visit facebook.com/newportgulls, follow the Gulls on Twitter @NewportGulls or visit www.newportgulls.com.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 29, 2014
- Mountaineers Edge Valley 4-3 - Vermont Mountaineers
- Blue Sox Falter in 4-3 Loss to Mountaineers - Valley Blue Sox
- Swamp Bats Hold On In Nightcap, Split Doubleheader with Muskrats - Keene Swamp Bats
- Gulls Win Third Straight, Top North Adams 4-1 - Newport Gulls
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
