SwampBats Pull ahead in Fourth, Stay There
July 12, 2018 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
KEENE, NH - The Keene SwampBats (17-13) took the lead for good with a four-run fourth and held on for a 6-4 victory over the Newport Gulls (13-16) on Thursday night at Alumni Field in Keene.
In the afore-mentioned top of the fourth, a pair of singles and stolen bases put two men on in scoring position with two away before Alex Carballo (Kennesaw State) delivered an RBI infield single and Brandon Smith (Dayton) followed with a three-run homer to make it a 6-2 game in favor of the hosts.
The home run was Smith's team-leading ninth of the season and he also leads the NECBL with 40 RBI.
Keene's all-time franchise record is 41 RBI set by OF J.P. Sportman in 2012.
The SwampBats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first. Jacob Koos (Stetson) led off with a single, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error charged to Newport C Logan Harvey (Wake Forest), while Brandon Smith (Dayton) drew a walk later in the inning, stole second and scored on an error charged to Gulls CF Tim Tawa (Stanford).
Gulls starter Russell Smith (TCU) allowed the six runs on eight hits to go along with two walks and six strikeouts in 6.0 IP and was dealt the loss, dropping to 1-4.
Newport got solo shots from Jake Gethings (Fairfield) in the third and Kody Hoese (Tulane) in the fourth to tie the game at two apiece.
RHP Kyle Whitten (Virginia) surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking three and fanning six in 5.0 IP to earn his first win of the summer for Keene and improve to 1-2. RHP Heibert Romero (Southeastern-2.0 IP, H, R, ER, 3 K) and RHP Erik Kaiser (Vanderbilt-2.0 IP, H, BB, 6 K) combined to close things out as Kaiser notched his first save of the summer.
Gethings drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, advanced to third on an error charged to Smith at third and scored on a passed ball, which brought the Gulls within 6-3.
Kody Hoese (Tulane) brought Newport within a pair in the sixth with a solo blast to center.
Koos (2-4, 3 SB, 2 R) and Nick Romano (St. John's River-2-4, 2B) both had multi-hit games for manager Lyndon Coleman's squad.
The SwampBats head south on Friday to battle the Mystic Schooners at Fitch High School. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. and RHP Jake McLinskey (1-2, 3.70) out of Kennesaw State University will get the start for Keene.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 12, 2018
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- Vermont Only Musters One Hit in 2-1 Loss against Valley - Vermont Mountaineers
- SwampBats Pull ahead in Fourth, Stay There - Keene Swamp Bats
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