Power hitting propels Pilgrims over Waves, 5-2
June 20, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Ocean State Waves News Release
Ocean State Waves vs. Plymouth Pilgrims
(Ocean State Waves)
PLYMOUTH, M.A.-Coming off a 5-2 loss to the Sanford Mainers on Wednesday, the Ocean State Waves needed a strong offensive performance against the Plymouth Pilgrims to keep up the pace in a competitive NECBL Southern Division on Friday. The Pilgrims blasted five home runs to edge out the Waves, 5-2, in front of 657 fans at Forges Field.
The Waves jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first with a run to start off the ballgame. Dylan Burdeaux (Southern Mississippi) slapped a single up the middle to start the rally. Burdeaux also swiped his third base of the summer with two outs, later scoring on an RBI single by Tim Lynch (Southern Mississippi) to give the Waves an early 1-0 lead.
Making his second start of the summer was right-hander Blaise Whitman (Rhode Island). Whitman went five innings, allowing thee runs on four hits with four strikeouts to his credit. Whitman struck out the side in the first, only allowing one hit in his first two frames. However, the Pilgrims hopped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with a solo home run off the bat of catcher Logan Koch (South Carolina). The blast evened the score at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Pilgrims used back-to-back home runs to pick up the lead against Whitman and the Waves. Brent Rooker (Mississippi State) and Mandy Alvarez (Eastern Kentucky) launched home runs over the left field fence to give the Pilgrims a commanding 3-1 lead.
While the Pilgrims went on a power surge, the Waves couldn't establish a groove against Pilgrims starter Patrick Naughton (Virginia Tech). The southpaw went 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits alongside two walks and a season-high eight strikeouts.
After a five-inning start from Whitman, the Waves turned to southpaw Richard Lovelady (Kennesaw State) to make his fifth appearance of 2015. Lovelady allowed a solo home run to Rooker (his second home run of the ballgame), giving the Pilgrims a 4-1 lead. Lovelady settled into a groove, allowing just two more hits in two innings of relief.
Following a stretch of five shutout innings from Naughton, the Waves bounced back with a leadoff solo home run from Mike Corin (Rhode Island). The Waves managed to get two more base runners after Nick Dawson (Southern Mississippi) reached on an error by shortstop Ryan Tufts (Virginia Tech) and a single by Jake Palomaki (Boston College). However, new pitcher Ryan Johnson (Bryant) retired Burdeaux on a groundout to third to end the frame.
Johnson came back on the mound for the top of the eighth, facing the heart of the Waves order. Working around a single from Lynch and a walk to Chuckie Robinson (Southern Mississippi), Johnson struck out Corin and issued a groundout to Dawson to end the frame with the Pilgrims ahead, 4-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, Waves manager Eric Cirella turned to his third pitcher of the night in right-hander Brad Applin (Rhode Isand). The first batter that Applin faced was Alvarez, who launched a solo home run to left to propel the Pilgrims to a 5-2 lead. Applin proceeded to retire the side in order after the solo shot, keeping the Waves within three of the Pilgrims.
The Pilgrims turned to closer Mike Fitzgerald (Northeastern) to face the Waves in the top of the ninth. Fitzgerald struck out the side, including Palomaki on six pitches to give the Pilgrims a 5-2 victory.
Despite the team's second straight loss, there were several offensive highlights for the Waves. Lynch, Burdeaux, and Corin each chipped in two hits, while Dawson reached base three times. Friday was the sixth straight games in which the Waves corralled at least five hits.
The Waves return to Old Mountain Field on Saturday to battle the Newport Gulls in the second installation of the 2015 Pell Bridge Series. Tony Dibrell (Kennesaw State; 1-1, 4.50 ERA) makes his third start of the summer for the Waves. Tune in online as Tim Scott and Rob Masse bring you the call on the NECBL Broadcast Network. The game will also be broadcast on WADK. First pitch is set for 6:05 in Wakefield.
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 Ocean State Waves vs. Plymouth Pilgrims |
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 20, 2015
- Waves fall in rain-shortened contest to Gulls, 7-4 - Ocean State Waves
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- Keene Loses Another Divisional Game At The Hands Of Valley - Keene Swamp Bats
- Power hitting propels Pilgrims over Waves, 5-2 - Ocean State Waves
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