Mainers and Gulls Split the Times-Two
July 16, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Frustration was at the forefront for the Sanford Mainers after dropping three games in a row. Sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Division, one spot behind the final playoff team is where they stood. They had a chance to turn things around on Monday against the Newport Gulls, facing off in a double header. It was an even split on the day, with the Mainers taking game one 2-1, but falling in game two, 8-1.
In the fast paced game one, Mainers starter Evan Hill worked around the Gulls' offense, throwing five innings, giving up five hits, and allowing the sole run the Gulls scored. He did strike out three in the process.
The Mainers took to the board first in the bottom of the first. Sam Balzano singled with one out, but was forced out at second on the fielder's choice putting Cole Martin on first. Connor Castellano singled to left pushing Martin to third base. Nic Wilson walked during the next at bat, but Martin was able to score on a wild pitch. Just an inning later, the Mainers added a run when Anthony Papio doubled down the left field line to start the inning. He advanced to third on a single to right by Robert Wayman. After Kyle Moore popped out, Troy Black hit a sacrifice fly to center allowing Papio to tag up at third.
The Gulls got their only run in the third when Adrian English and Ty Moore hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Cody Jones put down a sacrifice bunt to push both runners up a base. On the very next play, Trace Sam Ting hit a ground ball to short retiring him at first, but English was able to come into score. Both Aaron Casper and Steven Rice came into the game in relief to help seal up game one. They combined for two innings, no hits, no runs, and four strike outs. Rice picked up his fourth save of the year.
Game two was a different story than the first. The Gulls racked up thirteen hits and eight runs over seven innings. Mainers starter Nick Poore was taken from the game after just two innings, finalizing a line much different than his six shut out innings just a week ago in Mystic.
Newport plated four runs in the second inning to take an early and commanding lead. English started with a double to left-center and then scored on a single to left by Austin Barr. David Graybill put two more Gulls in scoring position including himself by smacking a double down the left field line. Moore added to the hit parade by putting a ball through the left side scoring Barr. Jones followed with a sacrifice fly while Tam Sing lined a single to left plating Moore.
Tyler Ferguson was lights out against the Mainers. He pitched all seven innings giving up only four hits and one run. He struck out five on the night. That one run came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Papio hit a line drive to the short porch in right field for a solo home run. His first on the year.
The Gulls added four more runs in the top half of the seventh when they sent nine men to the plate. They loaded the bases on two singles and a hit by pitch. Stephen Fortuna who had come into the game in relief bounced back with a pair of strike outs, but then surrendered three straight singles to English, Barr, and Graybill resulting in four more runs.
The Mainers improve and fall to 12-16 on the season. They'll continue their battle for the final playoff spot on Tuesday as they travel to take on the Ocean State Waves. Scott Heath is expected to make his third start of the season with game time being slated for 6:35pm.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 16, 2013
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- Wild One Ends In Keenes' Favor, Defeat Westerners 9-6 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Gulls Fall to Muskrats in 10 Innings - Newport Gulls
- Bay Sox Walk off vs. Mystic - New Bedford Bay Sox
- Newport Sends Flock of Gulls to 2013 All-Star Game - Newport Gulls
- 'Cats Bats Kept in Check - North Adams SteepleCats
- Newport Gulls Split Double Header at Sanford - Newport Gulls
- Mainers and Gulls Split the Times-Two - Sanford Mainers
- NECBL Announces Participants for ASG Skills Competitions - NECBL
- Westerners - News and Notes - Danbury Westerners
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