Mainers falter in ninth inning against Ocean State
Published on June 18, 2014 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
Sanford (4-5) came in to tonight's game on the losing end of their last two, and the Ocean State Waves (6-2) came in on the other side of the coin winning their last two. Both teams received stellar pitching efforts from their starters, Rich Vrana (1-0) threw 5 innings allowing just 3 hits while completing 7 strikeouts moving his ERA from 1.49 to 0.79 on the season, Luke Fernandes (Waves, 1-0) returned to 23 minutes from home for the starter out of Eliot, Maine and gave a complete effort of 6 innings allowing two hits and striking out 6.
The starters did their job and the Mainers finally broke through in the bottom of the 7th with Fernandes out of the game after throwing 77 pitchers, Mike Castellani gave up a one out infield single to Stevie Berman (Santa Clara), then Kendall Patrick (Michigan) shot a single to right field, Berman advances to third and Patrick takes second on the throw. Sam Balzano (UMaine) comes in the pinch hit for Matt Pagano (Marist), who finished 0 for 2 on the day, and promptly lined a ball to left field for an RBI single plating Berman and putting the Moose up 1-0.
Matt Rescigno (Maryland) struck out swinging, Drake Parker (Vanderbilt) struck a liner to center field and brought home Patrick pushing the lead to 2-0. Parker was caught stealing by Waves catcher Ethan Ferreira to end a productive bottom of the 7th.
The Mainers bullpen was tested, Jake Marks (UMaine-Orono) pitched a scorless 6th, Ryan Johnson (Vanderbilt) kept his ERA at 0.00 after walking two batters and fetching one strikeout in his scoreless 7th. Nick Poore (Boston College) was brought on in the 8th but only lasted for one out when a freak errant throw caused Poore to leap to catch the high through from his catcher Berman and then landed awkwardly. Poore recorded one out and then was replaced by Tyler Barss (URI, 0-1).
Barss closed out the 8th successfully, but the Waves found offensive momentum against Barss in the top of the 9th bringing in 4 runs, 3 of them earned, to take a 4 to 2 lead. Mike Bunal (Binghamton) replaced Barss, walked one but recorded the final two outs of the top of the 9th.
In the bottom of the ninth the Mainers were stunned, the crowd of 444 drew silent as Oliver Powers came in to close out the come from behind win for Ocean State of a 4-2 final. The Mainers fall to 4-5 on the season and the Waves improve to 6-2.
The Next game for your Moose is this Friday inside Goodall Park, first pitch at 6:30 p as the Mainers welcome in Keene (2-7).
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 18, 2014
- Mainers falter in ninth inning against Ocean State - Sanford Mainers
- Mountaineers Edge Laconia 5-4 - Vermont Mountaineers
- Gulls Roll Past Westerners 10-5 at Cardines Field - Newport Gulls
- Swamp Bats snap six-game losing streak with walk-off win - Keene Swamp Bats
- Red Sox Draftee, Miami Standout Beauprez Makes His Pitch in the Valley - Valley Blue Sox
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