Mainers Just Miss Finishing Comeback Bid with Ocean State
July 31, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
SANFORD - Sanford's (26-17) second comeback attempt of the night fell just short, as the Mainers fell to the struggling Ocean State Waves (19-23) in a close-knit affair from Goodall Park.
The Mainers trailed 4-1 and 8-5 during the game, as Sanford came back once to take a 5-4 lead and fell just short in the later innings.
Ocean State grabbed two runs in the 5th inning, and two more in the 6th to give the visitors an early 4-1 lead. In the 7th, Chris Gaetano (Monmouth), Jordan Powell (Rhode Island) and Sam Stauble (Southern Maine) all reached base in succession to load up the bases on a walk, single and a walk. Sanford took their first bite in the Waves lead two batters later with Johnny Slater (Michigan), who belted a two-run single to left field to bring Sanford within one.
Zach Jancarski (Maryland) stood up next, picking up a single of his own to tie the game at four. Only a batter later, Shaine Hughes (Monmouth) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Slater on a close play at the plate to make it 5-4 Moose.
Ocean State retook the lead in the 8th when Austin Upshaw (Kennesaw State) blasted a grand slam to right off of Mainers reliever Tristan Chari (Vanderbilt), as the Mainers' catcher pitched in on the hill.
Sanford loaded the bases in the 8th, but only got a single run on another RBI-single from Slater. Dan Wilson (North Carolina Asheville) knocked a pinch-hit home run to left in the 9th, and the Mainers got the tying run to third base with two men out in the 9th, but he would be stranded there.
Both starters were solid for their clubs early on, as Ocean State's Tyler Barrs (Rhode Island) went five innings on three hits, a run, three walks and five strike outs. It was Barrs' first start of the year, including NCAA play this spring. The Mainers Jonah Normandeau (Mainer Orono) went five innings himself, allowing two runs on eight hits, two walks and three strike outs.
The Mainers will face North Adams tomorrow, July 31, at Goodall Park for the regular season finale. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM, with audio and coverage on the NECBL Broadcast Network. The Mainers run for a league championship begins August 3 at 6:30 PM when the Mainers host the fourth place team in the division at Goodall Park.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 31, 2016
- Mainers Just Miss Finishing Comeback Bid with Ocean State - Sanford Mainers
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