Three-Run Eighth Leads Mystic over Vermont

Published on June 16, 2016 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


MYSTIC, Conn. - The Mystic Schooners scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, leading them to a 6-4 win over the Vermont Mountaineers on Thursday night in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL).

Vermont led for most of the game, but it wasn't enough, as the Mountaineers lost their sixth straight.

Vermont took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth when the Schooners rallied for three runs to take the advantage away and they never gave it back. Taishi Terashima (Aomori, Japan/St. Bonaventure) got them started by reaching on a walk and later scoring on a passed ball. Martin Figuroa (Elizabeth, N.J./Rhode Island) later singled, driving in Brett Bond (St. Louis/Missouri Columbia), which gave them the lead. The insurance run came later in the inning when pinch hitter Rich Slenker (Wilton, Conn./Yale) got on via a fielder's choice, and Figuroa scored.

Vermont starter Culver Lamb (Virginia Beach, Va./Old Dominion) pitched well, not allowing an earned run through five innings of work. The righty gave up just two hits, striking out three and walking none.

The Schooners countered with Joe Rivera (Plantsville, Conn./Connecticut), who was tagged for four runs on five hits over his five and one third innings of work. Rivera struck four and walked four.

The Mountaineers scored early in the ballgame, but couldn't muster any offense late. Vermont loaded the bases in the second inning thanks to a walk and a pair of singles by Will Morgan (Middletown, N.J./Old Dominion) and Slade Heggen (Missoula, Mo./Oregon). That set up second baseman Jeremy Giles (Claremont, Calif./Stony Brook) to get hit by a pitch, scoring Morgan for the first run of the game.

Vermont got another run in the third when Ryan Fineman (Bloomington, Ind./Indiana) hit an RBI-groundout that drove in Troy Scocca (Syosset, N.Y./Fairfield).

Heggen, a catcher, who just joined the team on Thursday, came up big for Vermont in the top of the sixth when he knocked an RBI-single that drove in Scocca and Morgan.

Mystic scored two of their own in the sixth when Brett Bond and Martin Figuroa drove in a run each.

Matt Ardente (Galloway, N.J./Seton Hall) got the win for Mystic, throwing two innings, allowing no runs on two hits. Joe Rocchetti (Green Brook, N.J./Manhattan) suffered the loss for the Mountaineers, going one inning on the mound and allowing three runs on three hits. Ryan Thomas (Ringoes, N.J./Marist) got the save after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth.

The Mountaineers fall to 1-6 on the season. They return home to Montpelier tomorrow to take on the Valley Blue Sox for the first time this season. First pitch is set for 6:30 at Montpelier Recreation Field, as TJ Santiago (Linden, N.J./Adelphi) will be on the mound for Vermont. In one start so far this year, Santiago went four innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, but got a no-decision. The game can be heard locally on CBS Sports 1240 AM WSKI, or online through The NECBL Broadcast Network.

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 16, 2016


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