Newport Defeats Laconia 15-3
June 30, 2012 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, RI - First baseman Brett Winger went 4-for-5 with five RBI and third baseman Austin Slater went 3-for-5 with three RBI as the Newport Gulls defeated the Laconia Muskrats 15-3 on Saturday, June 30.
Newport starter John Hochstatter (1-0) allowed just three runs, scattering 10 hits, while striking out five and walking none over seven innings of work in his first start of the season. Hochstatter threw 110 pitches, 67 for strikes.
Newport racked up 15 runs on a season-high 18 hits improving to 11-4 overall this season. With the victory, the Gulls remain in first place in the Eastern Division, while Laconia falls to 8-10 overall this season with the loss.
Outfielder Kasey Coffman led off the game with a solo home run over the scoreboard in right centerfield and Winger capped off the top of the first inning with a three-run blast to left field to give Newport a 4-0 lead before the Muskrats came to bat.
The Gulls tacked on a run in the second inning and a pair in the third inning before exploding for six runs in the top of the fourth inning off Laconia starter Kyle Mullen, who took the loss, falling to 1-1 overall this season. Mullen lasted just three and one third innings, giving up 13 runs on 14 hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.
Shortstop Joel McKeithan led off the inning with a double and advanced on a one-out single by designated hitter Steve Anderson before catcher Jeff Melillo was hit by a pitch to load the base. The Gulls proceeded to rack up four straight hits to extend their lead to 13-2 over Laconia. Winger delivered an RBI single, Slater drove in a pair with an RBI double, second baseman Conor Keniry followed with an RBI single and outfielder Rob Ort capped off the offensive explosion with an RBI double.
McKeithan belted a solo home in the top of the seventh inning, his second homer of the season, to extend the Newport lead to 15-2. McKeithan went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and RBI in the victory.
Reliever Ryan Pennell finished off the final two innings for Newport. Pennell kept the Muskrats off the scoreboard scattering a pair of hits and walks while striking out two batters.
Third baseman Vince Conde did most of the damage against Hochstatter for Laconia, going 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs against the southpaw. Conde finished the night 3-for-5 after singling off Pennell in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Newport will be back in action at home on Monday, July 2 against the New Bedford Bay Sox. First pitch at Cardines Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 30, 2012
- Laser Show Powers Mainers Past Bay Sox - Sanford Mainers
- Newport Defeats Laconia 15-3 - Newport Gulls
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