Mainers Let One Get Away Early against Nighthawks
June 30, 2019 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
SANFORD - It was a game to forget for the Sanford Mainers as they dropped a Northern Division contest to the Upper Valley Nighthawks by a 12-3 score.
The Nighthawks got their explosive day at the plate started in the second inning when David Mercado found his way home on a Brian Moore single. The visitors looked ready to put up a crooked number with runners on first and second and two outs, but Mainers starter Jake Noviello (Franklin, Mass./Fairfield) bore down and coaxed a weak popup in foul territory to end the scoring threat.
The Mainers got that run right back in their half of the inning on an Elliott Curtis (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada/Kentucky) fielder's choice that scored Nick Howie (Oakville, Ontario, Canada/Eastern Kentucky) from third base. Shane Marshall (Webster, N.Y./Binghamton) executed a successful hard slide into second base to rob the Nighthawks of a double play chance, a hustle play that leveled the two teams at one.
Sparked by promptly losing their lead, the Nighthawks offense exploded in the third. After a quick two outs, a rally consisting of a walk, single, error, and two doubles saw them put up five runs in the blink of an eye, creating separation from the Mainers with a newfound lead.
Cole Frederick tacked on one more in the fifth with an opposite-field home run to right field, putting Upper Valley in front 7-1.
The Mainers pulled one run back in the bottom of the fifth when Curtis doubled down the right-field line to bring Marshall around to score from first base.
Not happy to let the Moose back into the game, the Nighthawks offense erupted once again in the sixth inning. They sent four runners across home plate, registering five hits in the inning while drawing three walks.
Upper Valley tacked on two more in the seventh on another three walks and two singles, pushing their lead to double digits at 12-2.
The Mainers would score in the bottom of the eighth on a Curtis groundout. His third run batted in on the night made the score 12-3.
The Moose got close to making a larger dent in the score by getting their first two batters on base in the ninth inning, but a double play and strikeout held them to a 12-3 loss to the Nighthawks.
The defeat moves the Mainers to 7-10 on the season, remaining in sixth place in the Northern Division.
The Moose will look to rebound tomorrow as they hit the road to square off against the Vermont Mountaineers at Recreation Field. Be sure to tune in on the NECBL Broadcast Network and 104.3 FM/1220 AM "The Legends" to catch all the action starting at 6:30 PM. In the meantime, you can stay in the know about everything Mainers baseball by heading over to sanfordmainers.com and following the team on social media.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 30, 2019
- Moose Out-Hit Mountaineers in Another Weather-Shortened Loss - Sanford Mainers
- Mountaineers Collect Eighth-Straight Win in 4-1 Victory over Sanford - Vermont Mountaineers
- Stanley Vargas Dominates, While Alex Brickman and Others Power Bay Sox to 9-3 Win over Gulls - New Bedford Bay Sox
- Big Win at Home Keeps Cats in First - North Adams SteepleCats
- Mainers Let One Get Away Early against Nighthawks - Sanford Mainers
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