Schooners shut out Waves, 5-0
June 6, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Ocean State Waves News Release
Mystic Schooners vs. Ocean State Waves
(Ocean State Waves)
GROTON, C.T.-Coming off a come-from-behind victory over the Danbury Westerners on Friday, the Waves tried to carry the momentum into Saturday's contest against the Mystic Schooners. Baffled by the Schooners pitching staff, the Waves could only muster two hits as they fell to the Schooners, 5-0, in front of 208 fans at the Shipyard at Fitch High School.
Offensively, the Waves could not spark a rally against Schooners starter Sam Nepiarsky (Connecticut). The right-hander hurled seven shutout innings against the Waves, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out nine batters. Nepiarsky had a stretch towards the end of his outing in which he retired 13 straight Waves.
Even though Nepiarsky dominated the Home Opener for the Schooners, the Waves had opportunities to spark a rally against the junior from Connecticut. In the top of the first, Jake Palomaki (Boston College) walked to lead off the game. After Palomaki was forced out at second, Alex King (Saint Louis) made it all the way to third base before Nepiarsky struck out Dylan Burdeaux (Southern Miss) to end the frame.
However, after the Waves could not capitalize in the top of the first, the Schooners jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning. Facing Waves starter John Amendola (Northeastern), the Schooners loaded the bases courtesy of two singles and a walk. With the bases loaded, returning Schooner Aaron Hill (Connecticut), who finished 2014 with a .440 average against the Waves, laced a two-run single to left, propelling the Schooners to a 2-0 lead over the Waves.
The Waves had another opportunity to flex their offensive muscles against Nepiarsky and the Schooners. In the top of the second, Buck McCarthy (Bryant) was drilled by a fastball to lead off the inning. After McCarthy was forced out at second, Griffin Helms (Kennesaw State) stole second and made it to third on a balk. However, Veltri struck out to end the inning with the Schooners ahead, 2-0.
In the top of the third, the Waves got another runner on third, but couldn't bring a runner across the plate. Palomaki singled to third, then advanced on a wild pitch. However, Nepiarsky struck out King and caused Tim Lynch (Southern Miss) to fly out to right, ending another potential jam for the Waves.
After the third inning, Nepiarsky proved to be even more baffling for the Waves offense. Following Palomaki's single in the third, Nepiarsky retired 13 straight Waves until McCarthy lined a single to left in the seventh inning. During that stretch, Nepiarsky struck out seven batters, including three straight in the top of the fourth.
Although he allowed two runs in the first, Amendola struck out four batters in three innings of work. In the bottom of the fourth, Amendola allowed a double to Hill and also walked Andrew Hinckley (Central Connecticut State). With two runners on, Manager Eric Cirella made the call to the bullpen, bringing in right-handed reliever Ricky Dennis (Monmouth) for his first outing of the summer. Dennis proceeded to notch a fly out and an inning-ending double play to evade a Schooners rally in the fourth.
Dennis allowed just two hits in 2.2 innings of work, punctuating his efficient outing by striking out Hinckley in the sixth. To set up a lefty-lefty matchup with a runner at third, Cirella brought in Richard Lovelady (Kennesaw State) for his second appearance in as many nights. Lovelady was able to induce a ground ball out to King at short, preventing the Schooners from adding insurance runs.
After Lovelady retired the side in the eighth, Oliver Powers (Bryant) made history by officially becoming the first three-time Wave in franchise history. However, the Schooners overshadowed his achievement with a rally in the inning. Powers threw four wild pitches in the frame, allowing Dan Hoy (Princeton) and Casey Baker (Stony Brook) to score. A few batters later, Hinckley hit a sharp ground ball to Palomaki at third base. When Palomaki threw the ball, it sailed over the head of Lynch at first base, enabling Hill (who had reached base in all four of his at-bats) to score from third to put the Schooners ahead, 5-0.
The Waves had two chances to spark a rally against the Schooners bullpen after Nepiarsky's night came to a close. Facing Ryan Thomas (Marist) in the eighth, Nick Dawson (Southern Miss) reached on a walk and made it to second on a sacrifice bunt by Palomaki, but a pop out by King ended the threat. In the ninth, the Waves battled Schooners closer Teddy Turner (Trinity TX) by getting a leadoff walk from Lynch, but Turner struck out two of the next three batters to end the game and give the Schooners a 5-0 victory.
Behind the dazzling performance of Nepiarsky, Thomas, and Turner, the Waves could only muster two hits against the Schooners. Despite the loss, Palomaki reached base twice for the third straight game; he has reached base nine times in 13 attempts this summer. McCarthy and Helms also reached base twice, with the latter stealing his first base of the summer.
The Waves get the day off on Sunday, but continue their five-game road trip with a journey up to Northwest Massachusetts to face the North Adams SteepleCats on Monday. Blaise Whitman (3-3, 5.83 ERA at Rhode Island) will make his debut with the Waves after he made eight starts with the University of Rhode Island this spring. Tune in online as Tim Scott and Corey Stalzenbach bring the action live from North Adams. First pitch is slated for 6:30 at Joe Wolfe Field.
Be sure to like the Ocean State Waves on Facebook, follow them on Twitter (@OceanStateWaves) and Instagram (OceanStateWaves), or visit them online at OceanStateWaves.com.
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 Mystic Schooners vs. Ocean State Waves |
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