Media Release - Gulls Walk-Off in 15th to Defeat Waves
July 7, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - As midnight approached at Cardines Field, the Newport Gulls and Ocean State Waves had just passed the five-hour mark, locked in an 8-8 tie since the 9th inning. As many wondered if the Pell Bridge Series contest would ever end, finally, in dramatic fashion, the Gulls (14-9) were able to walk-off against the Ocean State Waves (13-8) to win the longest home game in team history, 9-8, on Monday night.
Newport jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Both Shea Donlin and Reed Gamache singled to lead off the game, putting runners on the corners for Joven Afenir. The Newport centerfielder, who is batting over .500 with runners on base, sent a ball over the right-field wall to put the Gulls up 3-0.
The Waves jumped back into the game with a rally in the top of the fourth inning.
Newport starter Colton Hock cruised through the first three innings, but allowed the first five Ocean State batters to reach base in the inning before inducing a run-scoring double play and a pop out to end the inning with his team still up by one.
Hock's struggles continued in the fifth. After getting the first batter to fly out, Hock walked the next two batters before allowing a towering three-run home run to Dylan Burdeaux to end his outing.
After trading runs in the late innings, Newport entered the bottom of the eighth trailing 7-5 with dwindling hopes. The Gulls came out swinging, though, and had two runners in scoring position with two outs down a run. After the Gulls got one run back, Quinn Brodey came into the game as a pinch hitter and pushed a swinging bunt in front of home plate that looked like it would end the frame, but the ball was thrown away, allowing the go-ahead runs to cross home plate.
For the second straight night, however, Newport could not keep a ninth-inning lead. The Gulls blew their second save in a row, allowing the Waves to tie the game and send the game into extra innings.
In the extra frames, pitching was the key. Each team used two pitchers past the ninth inning and all four hurlers had their best stuff. In 11 1/3 total innings, they combined to allow a run on nine hits and struck out 22 batters (43 total strikeouts were recorded in the game for both teams combined).
One of those pitchers was closer Brendan Spagnuolo, who earned the win while striking out six of the nine batters he faced. He said that the dugout remained positive throughout extra innings to try to eke out the win.
"We were just trying to piece together hit by hit," Spagnuolo said. "It took a couple innings, but we stuck together as a team and got it done."
Eventually, the Gulls found a way to win the game in the bottom of the 15th inning. With two outs, Drew Lugbauer launched a fly ball that appeared to be a home run off a tree in left field, but it was ruled off the wall, so Lugbauer settled for a double. The next batter was Jon Littell, who lined a single into centerfield to send those who remained for all five hours and 10 minutes home happy.
With the game lasting so long, players will have a shorter time to recharge before starting again, but Spagnuolo is still keeping to his routine.
"Getting right back home and going to bed and then waking up, gym tomorrow," Spagnuolo said. "We have our camp, so a busy day tomorrow too, maybe get some rest on the bus. Another day at it."
The Gulls depart this morning and will make the long journey to Montpelier, Vermont Tuesday for an interdivision game against the Vermont Mountaineers. Rob Masse and Joe Hutter will have the call from Recreation Field on the NECBL Broadcast Network with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Newport returns home Wednesday at Cardines Field to face the Plymouth Pilgrims at 6:35 p.m.
For more information about the Newport Gulls, visit www.facebook.com/newportgulls, follow the Gulls on Twitter @NewportGulls or visit www.newportgulls.com.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 7, 2015
- Mountaineers Rained Out - Vermont Mountaineers
- Leland Garners NECBL Pitcher of the Week Honors - Vermont Mountaineers
- Media Release - Gulls Walk-Off in 15th to Defeat Waves - Newport Gulls
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