Mainers defeat Swamp Bats 3-0 to force deciding game
August 5, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Keene, NH- Rich Vrana (Marist College) was dealing from the rubber for the Mainers (1-1) using 8 strikeouts through 7 innings to shut down the Keene Swamp Bats (1-1) 3-to-0. Vrana took a no-hitter into the 7th inning until Brett Dennis popped a single to left field, with two outs, breaking up the no-hit bid. Vrana was replaced in the 8th inning by Anthony Ciavarella (Monmouth) who worked a scoreless 8th not allowing a hit or a run with 1 strikeout.
Matt Harris (St. John's) launched his first home run of the post season, a two run blast in the top of the 5th inning scoring Sam Dexter (So. Maine) following a leadoff single. The Mainers took a 2-to-0 lead into the top of the ninth when Caden Bailey (Georgia State) crushed a solo home run to right center field giving the Moose the much-needed insurance run pushing the score to 3-to-0.
The Mainers on the season were 7-3 in shutout games which was second in the NECBL, as well as 14-7 on the road which was second best in the league. A power display ties up the series at 1-1 and forces a deciding game 3 at Goodall Park tomorrow, first pitch 6:30 pm with Christian Lavoie (UMass-Lowell, Sr.) getting the ball for your Mainers!
The Mainers move to 7-6 against Keene in the playoffs and win for the first time since June 10th against the Swamp Bats. Caden Bailey finished 1-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI, Cory Raley completed a 1-for-4 day moving his playoff batting to 4-for-7 (.571) average which leads the team. Matt Harris went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI's on a 2 run home run and one run scored. The Mainers just needed 5 hits to dispatch the Moose with solid fielding as well.
Cam Hatch works his first save of the playoffs after leading the Mainers in saves with 8 during the regular season. Vrana is undefeated on the season, 2 regular season wins and now 1 playoff win while keeping his ERA below 2 on the entire year.
The Swamp Bats will now face elimination for the first time in this series as the Mainers excelled tonight with the season on the line! The Moose return home, one win away from advancing to the Northern Division championship series!
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 5, 2014
- Mainers defeat Swamp Bats 3-0 to force deciding game - Sanford Mainers
- Gulls Force Game 3, Win 10-8 Thriller at Ocean State - Newport Gulls
- Swamp Bats drop Game 2, will play Sanford in winner take all Game 3 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Sanford in must-win situation after dropping game 1 - Sanford Mainers
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