Keene Survived and Advances to Second Play-in Game
August 3, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
MONTPELIER - The Swamp Bats (20-25) beat the Vermont Mountaineers (19-26), 3-1, in the first play-in game today and now they will advance to play the Upper Valley Nighthawks (20-25) in the second play-in game today at 6:30 p.m.
After every break that the Swamp Bats needed went their way yesterday, they are now one win away from advancing to the postseason.
The ¬ËBats were rested to coming into today's matchup with Vermont and they sent well rested starter Ryan Avidano (Georgia) to the mound.
Keene's pitching staff was tired and thin so they need Avidano to go deep and he did just that. In the seven inning game, Avidano went 4.1 IP, giving up just 4 hits, and walked 3 to an impressive 7 strikeouts.
Avidano got consistently ahead in the count and established the outside corners, which for him typically has meant success. Of the 4 hits he gave up, only one was for extra bases and he stranded 4 Vermont baserunners in scoring position. He appeared to lose some of his control with 2 outs in the 4th but regained it just enough to keep his line scoreless.
Avidano delivered with a strong pitching performance the ¬ËBats offense, although was not spectacular, did just enough to pull out the victory.
Scoreless through 2 innings, the Swamp Bats led off the 3rd with back-to-back singles from Dom Iero (Kent St.) and Josh Shaw (St. John's). Iero on third and Shaw at first, Aubrey McCarty (Florida A&M) started the scoring with single into center field to bring home Iero. Shaw would advance to third on the play due to an injury to Vermont centerfielder Joe Tietjen (UNC-Asheville). Next up and behind 0-1 in the count, Patrick Sullivan (Georgia) lifted a ball to center field deep enough to get the speedy Shaw home from third to make to 2-0 Keene.
The Swamp Bats offense stalled in the 4th and 5th innings, retired in order in both innings by Mountaineers starter Kevin Kernan (Stony Brook).
Still up 2-0 in the 6th, the ¬ËBats were looking for some insurance and they got it in the form of Ryan Costello (Central Connecticut St.). Costello belted a fastball over the high right field fence for his 5th home run of the season and it extended Keene's lead to 3-0.
That was enough for the bullpen to finish out the game.
Carmen Giampetruzzi (Boston Col.), Ivon Clough (Southern New Hampshire), and Mike Pastore (Central Connecticut St.) pitched a combined 2 2/3 innings, allowed 1 earned run on 3 hits. In the process, Pastore picked up his first save of the season.
The ¬ËBats will now travel today to White River Junction, VT to take on the Upper Valley Nighthawks to decided who will get No. 4 seed in Northern Division half of the NECBL Playoffs.
First pitch of the 7 inning game is set for 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on the NECBL Broadcast Network and FM 104.1 and AM 1220 ESPN Keene.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 3, 2016
- Media Release - Gulls Win Game One 7-2 - Newport Gulls
- Keene Survived and Advances to Second Play-in Game - Keene Swamp Bats
- Mountaineers Season Comes to An End with 3-1 Loss to Keene - Vermont Mountaineers
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