SwampBats Rally for 7-0 Hole, Score Improbably 8-7 Win
July 6, 2018 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
KEENE, NH - The Keene SwampBats (12-12) erased a 7-0 deficit and Brandon Smith (Dayton) hit a go-ahead three-run shot in the bottom of the seventh inning in an 8-7 victory over the Mystic Schooners (14-10) on Friday night at Alumni Field in Keene.
Smith's three-run shot came as part of a seven-run seventh that also included solo shots from Joe Breaux (Alabama), Cordell Dunn Jr. (Grayson County College) and Alex Carballo (Kennesaw State).
Following Carballo's home run, Buddy Dewaine Jr. (Central Conn. State) singled and Mitch Golden (Georgia Southern) and Jacob Koos (Stetson) walked before Michael Woodworth (UConn) knocked in a run via a sac fly to cut the lead to 7-5 and set the stage for Smith's go-ahead blast.
The home run was Smith's second of the night and team-leading seventh of the year. He also leads the NECBL with 31 RBI. Breaux's home run was his fourth of the summer, Dunn Jr's. second and Carballo's first.
RHP Eli Kimbell (Princeton) was charged with one run on two hits in 1.2 IP and was dealt the loss for Mystic, dropping to 0-1.
RHP Griff McGarry (Virginia) walked four and fanned 11 batters over five shutout innings of relief to earn the win for the SwampBats and improve to 3-0. The right-hander has not allowed a run in his last 10.1 IP.
Mystic grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-run shot off the bat of Freddy Sabido (Wagner).
The Schooners broke the game open for the time being with a five-run third inning and Chris Dutra (Duke) delivered the big blow in the frame with a grand slam. A single and a pair of walks had loaded the bases for the visitors.
SwampBats starter Ian Exposito (St. Thomas) allowed the seven runs (six earned) on three hits while walking four and fanning four over 4.0 IP in a no-decision.
Keene got on the board with a solo blast from Smith in the home half of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 7-1.
Mystic starter Bret Clarke (Stony Brook) allowed one run on two hits to go along with a walk and six strikeouts over 5.0 IP in a no-decision.
Carballo (2-4, HR, RBI, R), Dunn Jr. (2-4, HR, RBI, R) and Smith (2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R) had multi-hit games for manager Lyndon Coleman's squad.
The SwampBats will host a doubleheader against the Winnipesauke Muskrats on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field in Keene. First pitch of game one is set for 4:00 p.m. and RHP Jake McLinskey (0-2, 3.92) out of Kennesaw State will start for Keene.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 6, 2018
- Mainers Out Hit the Mountaineers but Errors Prove Costly - Sanford Mainers
- SwampBats Rally for 7-0 Hole, Score Improbably 8-7 Win - Keene Swamp Bats
- Nighthawks Win Fourth Straight - Upper Valley Nighthawks
- Mountaineers Snap 5 Game Losing Streak with Win over Sanford, 5-1 - Vermont Mountaineers
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