Mainers Split Season Series with Westerners After Tough Road Loss

June 26, 2018 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release


Danbury, Conn. - The Sanford Mainers fell on the road tonight in Danbury after the Westerners were able to tack on some important insurance runs in the 8th and pick up the 8-5 win. With the loss, Sanford split the season series with the Westerners who snapped their own seven game losing streak.

The Westerners were able to jump on top first as they brought home a run in the bottom of the 1st on an RBI groundout by their star shortstop Eddie McCabe, one of his four on the night.

The Mainers got the run back in the next half inning, the top of the 2nd, as Shane Marshall (Webster, N.Y./Binghamton) ripped an RBI single down the left field line that brought Tyler Solomon (Haymarket, Va./Vanderbilt) around to score after he walked to lead off the inning to tie things up at one run apiece.

After two scoreless innings thrown through the 2nd and 3rd by Sanford's starter Cole Whitney (Campbell Hall, N.Y./Georgia Southern), the Westerners were able to put five runs on the board through the 4th and 5th inning as they took a 6-1 lead into the top half of the 7th.

The Mainers chipped away at the five run deficit in the top of the 7th inning as after a single and two walks loaded the bases with nobody out, Austin Biggar (Lilburn, Ga./Georgia) drew a walk to bring home Johnny Rizer (Cypress, Texas/Texas Christian University). Two batters later, Jonathan White (Lawrenceville, Ga./Presbyterian) brought home the second run of the inning on a fielder's choice that score Solomon for the second time. The Westerners, however, would get out of the inning just allowing the two runs as the gap closed to 6-3.

Sanford's bullpen did their job as Sean Fisher (Parsonsburg, Md./Maryland) and Matt Dockman (Hilliard, Ohio/Duke) combined for two scoreless innings without a hit as the game moved into the 8th inning.

Danbury added two very important insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th inning as they pushed their lead out to 8-3 and had their best closer on for the 9th inning.

For the second straight night, the Mainers would not go away quietly in the final frame. After Biggar picked up his second base hit of the ballgame, Coach Morris went to the bench to bring in Laurence Hill (Durham, Conn./Rhode Island) who promptly smashed his second home run of the season over the left field fence to cut the Westerners lead back to just three. This is the second time in a row that Hill has come to bat in the 9th and launched a home run. Danbury was able to get the final two outs however as they held on for the 8-5 win.

The loss did not hurt the Mainers in the standings as Valley was off tonight and Upper Valley also lost on the road to Winnipesaukee to keep Sanford tied for 2nd place in the Northern Division. They are right back on the road tomorrow night against another tough Southern Division opponent as they will visit the Mystic Schooners at 6:30. You can catch all the action live on the NECBL Broadcast Network and 102.3 FM "The Legends" back in Sanford as the Mainers look to snap a three game road skid.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 26, 2018


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