New Bedford Outlasts Vermont in Extras

June 26, 2011 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


New Bedford, MA - Brett Botsford hit a two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning as the New Bedford Bay Sox defeated the Vermont Mountaineers 2-1 in 10 innings in New England Collegiate Baseball League action on Sunday night. Botsford three for five on the night with three singles as the Bay Sox won back-to-back games for the first time all season improving their record to 5-4.

The Bay Sox got on the board first in the home half of the first inning after they sent seven batters to the plate against JD Leckenby. Leckenby (Buhl, ID/Washington State) was able to leave the bases the loaded however and get out of the jam. In his first appearance of the summer, Leckenby pitched only three innings giving up one run on four hits while striking out and walking three in a no-decision.

The Mountaineers were able to tie the game back up in the third after Matt Wallenzon reached on a throwing error by third baseman Brad Shaban. He would later score on an RBI single from Brett Johnson. From there on, both teams would squander multiple chances to take the lead as every inning until the ninth saw runners on base for each squad. In total, 25 runners were left on base, 11 by the Mountaineers. Vermont even was able to get a baserunner to third in each inning between the third and the seventh.

Both bullpens were spectacular in working in and out of trouble after the starters exited. New Bedford starter Lucas Whitehill tossed five innings giving up one run, unearned, on only two hits while walking four and striking out five. The Bay Sox arms were even able to keep the Mountaineers at bay despite seeing Vermont steal seven bases for the second time this season.

A combination of nine different pitchers were used by each team as it was a battle of the bullpens. Cody Ege (Cherokee, IA/Lousiville) pitched four shutout innings in relief for Vermont before giving way to Spencer Jackson, Jacob Booden, and ultimately Kyle Grana. Meanwhile, Stephen Janas and Brian O'Neil combined to throw four scoreless for the Bay Sox before Erik Lambe was given the ball in the ninth.

Grana (Louisville, KY/Bellarmine) came on in the bottom of the ninth for Vermont and pitched a perfect inning striking out two. In the bottom of the tenth, Andy Lalli lead off with a double before pinch runner Charlie Markson was sacrificed over to third by Charlie Neil. Grana then got Josh Messier to ground out before giving up the winning hit to Botsford. The two hits were the first Grana has allowed all season. Kyle Grana (0-1) was saddled with the loss while Erik Lambe (1-1) received the win.

Vermont (5-5) drops their second straight game after having five off days. They will next be in action at home on Tuesday June, 28th at 6:30 p.m. as the host the Sanford Mainers. You can hear all the action live on ESPN 1240, WSKI and www.thevermontmountaineers.com.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 26, 2011


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