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R.J. Wagner Pitches a Gem, While Top of Bay Sox Order Crushes Muskrats in 11-3 Rout

June 15, 2018 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) - New Bedford Bay Sox News Release

Every New Bedford Bay Sox hitter reached base by the fourth inning, as they scored 11 times in an 11-3 blowout victory over the Winnipesaukee Muskrats on Friday night at Paul Walsh Field.

In need of a victory and a spot start, the Bay Sox turned to Dayton's R.J. Wagner, who delivered an impressive outing, as he spun a shutout through the first six innings. Wagner was credited with allowing two runs in the seventh, but gave New Bedford the lengthy start that they needed, as their schedule has been compressed in the last few days. Wagner walked just one batter and gave up six hits, with three Ks in his first start after two relief appearances for New Bedford.The top part of the Bay Sox lineup produced early and often, as both Elijah Brown (Sacred Heart) and Logan Allen (Bridgeport) drove in three runs. New Bedford put up nine runs in the first three innings, with a six-spot in the second that all but ensured the Bay Sox' fifth win of the season. New Bedford began the year at 4-1, but dropped their last two contests, and trailed 6-5 in the third inning of Wednesday night's game at Newport before it was halted due to heavy fog.

After a 1-2-3 first by Wagner, the Bay Sox scored twice without the benefit of a hit. Brown whiffed to begin the frame but reached base on a passed ball on the third strike. Allen followed by being hit by Winnipesaukee starter Garrett Witcher, and both runners advanced on stolen bases after Andrew Rapoza (Barry) struck out swinging. Robert Emery (San Francisco) drove in Brown with a sac fly to center, and Allen crossed the plate on a wild pitch to give New Bedford a quick 2-0 lead.

The home team jumped all over Witcher in the second, bouncing the righty from the contest after retiring just one batter in the inning. New Bedford loaded the bases with no outs without a hit on two walks and another hit batter, and with one down the hits finally started coming. Brown singled home Christian Aybar (New England College) and Ryan Markey (St. John's), and Allen drove in Tommy Seidl (Harvard) with a single of his own that ended Witcher's evening. Rapoza blooped a single to center that plated the sixth New Bedford run, and Jack Winkler (San Francisco) continued the offensive barrage with a single that evaded the efforts of shortstop Reagan Teegarden in short left field to give the Bay Sox an 8-0 lead.

Brown drove in his third run of the night in the third inning, as his grounder to first base brought home Seidl, who doubled with two down to start a late rally. The Sox packed the sacks again without a hit in the fifth on two more free passes and the third hit batter of the night. Allen singled to drive in Markey to put New Bedford into double digits for the first time since June 28, 2017 - also against the Muskrats.

The two teams traded runs late in the game, as Allen tripled to plate Brown in the seventh, and Winnipesaukee catcher Cacy Harper hit a blast to left field to lead off the eighth for the Muskrats' first run. The road team added two more in the eighth, as Jack Owens (Bryant) relieved Wagner but could not hold the Muskrats off the scoreboard in left field. Owens had an adventurous relief appearance, allowing one run, two hits, two walks, one hit batter, and fanning five batters in two innings.

The Bay Sox pull double duty on Saturday, with a doubleheader against the Danbury Westerners starting at 5pm. The two Southern Division foes are atop the standings, as they both enter with three losses on the season. They will travel to Valley to face the Blue Sox on Sunday, and will complete their fog-aided game against Newport as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Paul Walsh Field.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 15, 2018


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