Markey's Two Clutch Hits, Reardon's Quality Start Guides Bay Sox Past Westerners 4-3

July 17, 2019 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
New Bedford Bay Sox News Release


Home continued to be where the heart is for the New Bedford Bay Sox in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon, as they held on for a tight 4-3 win over the Danbury Westerners.

Shane Reardon (UMass Dartmouth) was terrific on the mound, allowing three runs with five strikeouts and no walks in his six-inning start, while Ryan Markey (St. John's) had two singles and two RBIs, including the game-winning base knock that broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kyle Johnson (Holy Cross) earned his second save of the season, whiffing the final two batters that he faced to keep the tying run 90 feet away in the seven-inning contest which was moved up three hours to avoid inclement weather in the area.

Reardon, making his first start of the season, ran into some trouble in the top of the first, as Westerners cleanup hitter Sonny Ulliana launched the first pitch he saw over the fence in left field, driving in two for a prompt two-run advantage in the sticky conditions at Paul Walsh Field. Reardon, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Wednesday, did earn his only win of the season against Danbury, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts on July 8th. He gave the Bay Sox their second straight impressive outing from a bullpen arm, as Jake Rockefeller (Rhode Island) also pitched into the seventh inning in his first start during Tuesday night's win over North Adams.

After having just one base runner - via a two-base error by shortstop Alex Bello - the Bay Sox touched up Danbury starter Joe Vail for a three-spot in the third inning. Parke Phillips (Brown) earned the first hit of the game with an infield single, and was joined on the bases by Bryan Hart (Bryant), who was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count. Thomas Blandini (Southern New Hampshire) doubled to right field to drive in the first New Bedford run, and a grounder to the right side by Blandini's collegiate teammate Sam Henrie scored Hart to even up the game at 2-2. Markey ripped a single up the middle to bring Blandini home, giving the home squad their first lead of the afternoon.

Reardon was in control through the fourth inning, allowing just one hit during those three frames. Danbury tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth, as Isiah Daubon singled, stole second, and came home on an infield single by Nicholas Lorusso. The base hit went off the glove of Hart at second, then Jack Winkler grabbed the bouncer and fired home, but his throw was off the plate which allowed Daubon to score the tying run.

New Bedford quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, with Markey coming through in the clutch yet again with an RBI single that scored Winkler, who had lead off with a double. The Bay Sox squandered a chance to add at least one insurance run, as a single with runners at first and second by Rafe Chaumette (Trinity) - which extended his hitting streak to eight games - resulted in a rundown between second and third, with Markey and Henrie getting crossed up on the bases and ending up with both occupying third base.

Bay Sox manager Chris Cabe allowed Reardon to pitch into the seventh and final inning in Game 1 of the twin-bill, but the senior from New Bedford gave up a leadoff single by Alex Baratta which ended his stellar outing. Johnson earned the save thanks to a questionable send at third base, as a double by Daubon brought Baratta homeward, but the Danbury second baseman was thrown out by a country mile by the combination of Markey in left, Blandini at third, and Zach Buck (Holy Cross) behind the dish. Consecutive strikeouts from Johnson ended the contest, giving New Bedford their second straight home victory and ninth win overall.

The loss dropped Danbury to 15-16, as the Westerners are battling for a playoff spot in the Southern Division, while New Bedford continued to excel at home, pushing their home mark to 8-6 on the year.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 17, 2019


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