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Ryan's Walk off Helps Rox Salvage Split

August 5, 2012 - Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Old Orchard Beach News Release


Brockton, Mass. - Norton native Sean Ryan's (Wheaton) walk off single in the bottom of the 10th inning of game two propelled the Brockton Rox to a split of Saturday night's doubleheader with the Martha's Vineyard Sharks at Campanelli Stadium in Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) action.

After dropping the first seven-inning contest, 5-3, Brockton (27-23) rallied for a win in the second tilt, 6-5, to keep sole possession of fourth place in the FCBL standings. Meanwhile, Martha's Vineyard (25-22) remains tied for fifth place with the Pittsfield Suns, just a half game behind the Rox in the standings.

In first game of Saturday's doubleheader, the Rox jumped out to an early, 1-0, lead in the third inning behind an RBI double from Mike Lupia (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) that scored A.J. Lardo (Maryland). Brockton followed with another run in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead after Mike Lupia ripped an RBI single to center field that plated Luis Gonzalez (Concordia).

However, things unraveled for the Rox in the fifth as the Sharks bounced back with a five runs of their own to take control of the game. The offensive explosion started when Pat Quinn (Rhode Island) belted a single to center field that scored Jack Colton (Harvard). Dylan Tice (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) followed with an RBI single of his own to plate Quinn and tie the game at two.

After Tice scored later in the inning on an RBI groundout from Eric Jensen (Wheaton), Tad Gold (Endicott) came around to score on a passed ball to give the Sharks a two-run lead. Cale Hanson (Yale) then scored later in the inning on an error to make it a 5-2 ballgame.

The Rox made things interesting late in the game as they pulled within two in the sixth after Mike Lupia drew a bases loaded walk to score Vito Perna (Southeastern Louisiana). With Brockton threatening to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, Ryan Morris (Presbyterian) induced an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded to record the final two outs of the frame and earn his seventh save of the season.

Kyle Brenner (Brandeis) registered the win (1-0) for Martha's Vineyard after scattering three runs on five hits and one walk in 5.1 innings of work.

On the other end, Evan Brown (Newberry) suffered the loss (1-5) after conceding five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks in 4.1 innings on the bump.

Kyle Capaldo (Fairfield) was impressive in relief, as the right-hander gave up just one hit in two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

It was the Rox who struck first again in the second contest, as Perna laced an RBI single to center field in the first inning that scored Mansfield's Rhett Wiseman (Vanderbilt) and put the hosts up by one.

Both offenses fell silent until the fourth inning, when Martha's Vineyard unloaded for four runs to take a 4-1 lead. The offensive barrage began when a costly Brockton error led to a pair of runs for the Sharks early in the frame. Moments later, Ronnie Rosario (Fisher) blasted a two-run double to right field that plated both Colton and Apolinar De La Cruz (Wheaton) and gave the Sharks a three-run lead.

Martha's Vineyard then added to their lead in the sixth inning thanks to an RBI single from Andrew Barry (Holy Cross) that scored Tice and put the Sharks up by four.

With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the seventh inning, Brockton loaded the bases with no outs in the frame to kick-start the rally. After Tanner Reibenspies (San Diego State) plated Mike Lupia with an RBI fielder's choice, Perna stepped in and roped a single to center field that scored Wiseman and pulled the Rox within two.

With two outs in the inning, East Bridgewater's Greg Baggett (Bentley) launched a two-run double off the center field wall that scored both Reibenspies and Westwood's Sean Amaru (Quinnipiac) to tie the game at five and cap off the seventh inning comeback.

After both offenses went quietly through the first two extra frames, Aaron Lupia (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) smashed a double off the left field wall to lead off the 10th inning for Brockton. The Rox quickly proceeded to load the bases with nobody out after Wiseman drew an intentional walk and Reibenspies was hit by a pitch.

That's when Ryan stepped in and laced a single down the left field line to score Aaron Lupia and send the Rox to a 6-5 victory.

Sal Minichino (Concordia) picked up the win (4-1) in relief after allowing just one walk in an otherwise perfect 10th inning on the hill.

Christian Wolosik (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) chalked up a pair of strikeouts in a perfect seventh inning, while Cohasset's Brendan Doonan (Rhode Island) followed with two flawless innings of work to keep the Sharks at bay late in the game.

Rox starter Joe Fasano (New Jersey Institute of Technology) lasted just 3.1 innings on the mound after conceding four unearned runs on three hits and one walk, while fanning two. His counterpart, Andrew Boyce (Holy Cross), racked up eight strikeouts in six stellar innings of work for the Sharks. The right-hander scattered one run on five hits and two walks in just his fourth start of the season.

Morris suffered the loss (2-1) after conceding one run on three hits and five walks in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Ryan tallied five hits on the night to pace the Rox at the dish, while Mike Lupia went 3-for-5 with a double, three walks, three RBIs, a stolen base, and a run scored. Perna finished 3-for-8 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored, while Aaron Lupia went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Tice led the way for the Sharks, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, three stolen bases, and a run scored.

The Rox are back in action on Sunday at Campanelli Stadium against the Torrington Titans at 5:05 p.m. Meanwhile, the Sharks head to Leominster, Mass. for a doubleheader with the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs, beginning at 2 p.m.

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