Holyoke Blue Sox edge Newport Gulls 4-3 in 10 innings
June 15, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
Newport, R.I. - Despite a late rally to erase a three run deficit, the Newport Gulls fell to the Holyoke Blue Sox 4-3 in 10 innings at Cardines Field on Friday, June 14.
Mick VanVossen got the home start at home for the Gulls, but would not earn the win after several lead changes late in the game. VanVossen, a sophomore from Michigan State, tossed six solid innings, allowing just three runs (one earned) on five hits, while racking up five strikeouts.
The Blue Sox took advantage of five infield errors committed by the Gulls building an early lead. The Blue Sox would strike in the first inning as outfielder Jacob Bruce crossed the plate with the first run of the game after an errant throw to second base by Gulls shortstop Trace Tam Sing. Third baseman Brendan Hendriks followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to give Holyoke a 2-0 lead after half an inning.
The Blue Sox expanded their lead in the second inning when first baseman Justin Morhardt scored on a two out error by first baseman Steve Anderson.
Jordan Hillyer, a sophomore right-handed pitcher out of Kennesaw State, silenced the bats of the Gulls over six and two thirds innings of work. Hillyer allowed just two runs (one earned) on two hits, but issued five walks and struck out eight. Hillyer departed with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Anderson scored on a two-out Blue Sox error to trim the deficit to 3-1, but outfielder David Graybill popped out with the bases loaded to end the threat.
The Gulls late rally continued with another run in the seventh inning when outfielder Timmy Robinson walked with the bases loaded scoring pitcher Mark McCoy, who went four innings in relief on the mound, but would take the loss in extra innings.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Gulls comeback began with a two-out single by Robinson, who looped a pitch into left field, putting the tying run on base. The very next batter, Anderson, came within inches of hitting a walk off two-run homer, blasting the first pitch he saw from Ben Rakus, who picked up the win in extra innings, off the wall in deep right centerfield, scoring Robinson from first base and tying the game at 3-3.
Blue Sox designated hitter Jacob Cronenvorth led off the 10th inning with a solo home run off McCoy to put Holyoke ahead 4-3. Newport second baseman Adrian English led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a single but the Gulls were unable to push across the tying run.
With the extra innings win, the Holyoke Blue Sox improve to 4-1 on the season and remain undefeated on the road, while the Newport Gulls fall to 2-2 on the young season.
The Gulls will be back in action on Saturday, June 15 facing the New Bedford Bay Sox on the road. The Gulls will send southpaw James Mulry (0-0, 3.85 ERA) to the mound, while the Bay Sox will counter with right-hander Frank Vilacha (0-1, 3.60 ERA).
Since moving to Newport in 2001, the Gulls have captured the New England Collegiate Baseball League championship, the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup, an NECBL-record five times, and in 2012 were named the No. 1 summer collegiate team in the country by Perfect Game USA in Perfect Game's Top 50 final rankings, capping a record-breaking season by Newport and marking the first time ever that an NECBL franchise has been ranked No. 1 nationally.
The Gulls, which attract more than 50,000 fans annually to historic Cardines Field in Newport, recruit players from the top college baseball programs in the country, and to date have sent six alumni to Major League Baseball teams, and over 150 players to professional baseball teams ranging from Independent leagues to Triple-A.
For more information, visit our website, www.newportgulls.com, and follow the team on Facebook and Twitter @NewportGulls.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 15, 2013
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