Swamp Bats Win Thriller
July 3, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
Trailing 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning Matt Ford and Brian O'Grady both picked up RBI singles to give the Swamp Bats a 8-7 victory over the Newport Gulls in front of a season high crowd of 4958. The nearly five thousand who made it out for Independence Eve night were treated to a great game with back and forth action.
Nathan Kirby, out of the University of Virginia, did not have the same dominant stuff on Wednesday night that helped him claim the NECBL pitcher of the week on Sunday. The lefty only went three and two thirds innings, giving up 6 runs on five hits and five walks.
The offense was able to keep the Swamp Bats in the game though, constantly answering the Gulls scoring.
After surrendering three runs in the opening frame, Keene scored two in the bottom of the first on an error, and later in the third, Dan Nichols, out of the University of Georgia, tied the game with an RBI single.
Again the Gulls scored three runs, this time in fourth to chase Kirby, and again the Swamp Bats responded. The catcher from Kent State University, Tommy Monnot, belted a solo home run to cut the lead to 6-4. JP Sportman then came on three batters later and tied the game on a two run home run of his own, his first of the season.
The reigning NECBL champions struck again though, this time in the seventh on a bases loaded fielder's choice to take a 7-6 over Keene.
The Swamp Bats were in no mood to go down without a fight all night, and in the bottom of the eighth, Keene once again roared back.
Matt Ford, a senior out of Hofstra University, singled in Zach Lauricella to tie the game at 7-7, and later Rutgers's Brian O'Grady drove in the winning run with a sharp single to center.
James Connell came on to close out the ninth and did so successfully, sealing the 8-7 win for the Swamp Bats.
The win moves Keene's record to 4-11 on the season. The team will travel to Saratoga Springs, NY on Independence Day to face the Brigade. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 3, 2013
- Swamp Bats Win Thriller - Keene Swamp Bats
- Blue Sox Announce "Boston Strong" Night - Valley Blue Sox
- Blue Sox Baseball Clinics Still Open - Valley Blue Sox
- Blue Sox Fall in 13-7 Slugfest with Brigade - Valley Blue Sox
- Bay Sox Down Mystic - New Bedford Bay Sox
- Pilgrims Tame 'Cats in 4-1 Road Setback Wednesday Night - North Adams SteepleCats
- Blue Sox Face Brigade in Battle for Second Place - Valley Blue Sox
- Blue Sox Announce "Boston Strong" Night - Valley Blue Sox
- Blue Sox Announce Schedule Change for July 4 - Valley Blue Sox
- Westerners Take On the Waves Tonight - Danbury Westerners
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