Swamp Bats surrender three home runs, lose second straight road game

June 24, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release


LACONIA - A three-run homer in the first, a two-run shot in the second and a grand slam in the 4th spelled doom for the Keene Swamp Bats as they fell 10-4 to the Winnipesaukee Muskrats Friday in front of 222 fans at Robbie Mills Park in Laconia.

The loss was Keene's second straight away from home and their third loss in four games, dropping their record to 8-5.

Keene's offense showed life early as sophomores Brandt Stallings (Georgia Tech) and Ryan Costello (Central Connecticut St.) had back-to-back singles with one out in the top of the 1st, followed with a walk by fellow sophomore Jack Morock (Iowa Western CC). However, Keene stranded all three runners at the end of the inning. The Swamp Bats stranded 10 total base runners.

Senior right-hander David Drouin (Hartford) made his first start and appearance in a Swamp Bat uniform Friday, but it wasn't the first impression he was hoping for. After leading off with two singles, Winnipesaukee DH Keivan Berges (senior, Northwood) hit a three-run home run to left field, making it 3-0 Muskrats at the end of one.

Drouin took the loss on the mound, lasting 2.2 innings and yielding nine hits, nine earned runs, five walks and four strikeouts.

After the Swamp Bats stranded one more base runner in the top of the 2nd, Winnipesaukee expanded their lead in the bottom of the inning when shortstop Anthony Maselli (junior, Boston College) went yard with a runner on and one out, giving the Muskrats a 5-0 lead. Maselli finished the game going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and a walk.

The Swamp Bats got on the board in the top of the 3rd. After Stallings led off with a walk and reached second on a passed ball, Morock brought him home with an RBI single to right field. Swamp Bat DH Jamal Wade (junior, Maryland) brought Morock home on an RBI single to center, making it 5-2 Muskrats in the middle of the 3rd.

After going 3-for-3 with a home run and a double against Vermont Thursday, Wade had another solid night, going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Wade also tossed a scoreless inning of relief in the 8th, striking out one.

After Drouin gave up a walk and two hits to lead off in the bottom of the 3rd, Winnipesaukee first baseman Michael Rothmund (sophomore, Illinois-Springfield) blasted a grand slam to left-center field. It was the first grand slam the Swamp Bats pitching staff has given up this season. It was 9-2 Winnipesaukee at the end of three.

Keene wouldn't score again until the top of the 6th. Third baseman Garrett Christman (junior, Butler) and shortstop Jordan Howard (junior, Lee) led off with back-to-back singles. After a passed ball advanced Christman to third and Howard to second, Stallings brought Christman home on a 6-3 RBI sacrifice. Howard scored on a sac fly to center field by Costello, making it 9-4 Muskrats in the middle of the 6th.

Winnipesaukee got some extra insurance in the bottom of the 6th when Rothmund scored his second run of the game off a passed ball by Keene catcher Evan McFarland (senior, Lock Haven) after reaching first base on a passed ball. McFarland finished the game with four passed balls.

The Swamp Bats were retired in order in both the 8th and 9th innings.

Winnipesaukee starting left-handed pitcher Ethan Gillis (R-Fr., Kennesaw St.) improved his season record to 2-0 on the mound, lasting four innings and giving up only one earned run and tallying four strikeouts.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 24, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central