Two-Out Hits Put Moose Away
Published on June 16, 2019 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
NEW BEDFORD - It took them seven games to do it, but three key two-out, two-run hits finally brought the New Bedford Bay Sox their first win of the 2019 season, downing the Mainers by a 6-1 score.
It didn't matter what Mainer pitchers were throwing as Bay Sox hitters consistently barreled up baseballs, ending the night with nine hits, five of which coming with two outs.
Brennen Oxford (Durham, N.H./Wake Forest) started the day on the mound for the Moose, and through his first two innings, he kept the Bay Sox off the board in heroic fashion. With runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the first after a hit batsman and an error, Oxford forced cleanup batter Andrew Rapoza to roll a weak groundball to shortstop, inducing an inning-ending double play.
Just one inning later, the Bay Sox loaded the bases without allowing a single hit. Once again, Oxford was not fazed. Facing the team's batting average leader in Thomas Blandini, he dug deep and got a weak pop out to end the inning. To that point, Oxford had stranded four runners on base.
While it looked like the young left-hander was up to his same tricks in the third inning, Oxford's luck finally ran out. He started off the frame by allowing consecutive singles, and both runners advanced moments later on a wild pitch. He recaptured his form from the first two innings for the next two batters he faced, registering a strikeout and fielding a hard-hit comebacker. But, needing just one strike to finish off a third scoreless inning, New Bedford's top run producer Jeremiah Adams laced a double into right field, scoring two runs to put the Bay Sox in front. They added on another two-RBI hit just two batters later with Zachary Buck hitting a line drive underneath the outstretched glove of right fielder Nick Howie (Oakville, Ontario, Canada/Eastern Kentucky) to double his team's advantage.
Oxford's day was done after just three innings of work, his second consecutive start of that length.
Rhett Gay (Twin City, Ga./Georgia Southern) was the first Mainer up from the bullpen to face the Bay Sox, and just like Oxford, his first two innings kept the Bay Sox bats at bay. He was in complete control as he faced the minimum of six hitters and did not give up a single hit.
The Moose finally got their offense going in the fifth inning when they produced a two-out rally of their own. Robbie Armitage (Falmouth, Maine/Marist College) worked a walk and promptly put himself in scoring position with a stolen base. Drew DeMartino (Pittsfield, Mass./Hartford) followed up with his second base hit of the game, chasing Armitage home for the first Mainer run of the evening, cutting the New Bedford lead to three at 4-1.
However, as had been the case with Oxford, Gay found himself in trouble in the sixth. With two outs and a runner on first, he walked Blandini, setting the stage for Ryan Markey to deliver the Bay Sox's third two-out, two-run knock, a solid single through the left side of the Mainer infield, pushing their advantage to 6-1. Gay would finish the frame but was pulled after three innings of relief.
Pat Petteruti (East Greenwich, R.I./Brown) became the next Moose arm to toe the rubber, as he would continue his strong start to the 2019 NECBL campaign with two shutout innings. Though he found himself in trouble at times with runners on base, he did what the other two Mainer arms did in their first two innings of work and escaped any danger. He racked up three strikeouts and stranded three Bay Sox baserunners in scoring position, giving the Mainers chances to get back into the game.
New Bedford reliever Matthew Stansky slammed the door on the Mainers in the ninth inning to put the Moose away and bring the Bay Sox into the win column for the first time this year.
Though the 6-1 final score doesn't show it, the Mainers were spoiled by a spell of rough luck on offense. Two hitters came within inches of home runs as Brandon Lankford (Mocksville, N.C./UNC-Asheville) hooked a fastball just to the left of the left-field foul pole in the second inning, keeping two runs off the board. Orlando Adams (Atlanta, Ga./Kentucky) drilled another pitch the edge of the warning track, but Markey's defensive heroics robbed him of a potential round-tripper.
The Moose ended the day with seven hits and many more well-hit balls. A combination of strong Bay Sox defense and bad breaks held the offense in check, denying them from putting up runs time and time again.
The Moose are back in action tomorrow as they travel to White River Junction, Vermont for a Father's Day tilt with the Upper Valley Nighthawks. You can catch all the action starting at 5:00 PM from the Maxfield Sports Complex on 104.3 FM/1220 AM "The Legends" or on the NECBL Broadcast Network. In the meantime, head over to sanfordmainers.com and follow the team on social media to stay in the loop about all things Mainers.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 16, 2019
- Mountaineers Toppled by Big Homer, Shutdown Keene Pitching - Vermont Mountaineers
- Mainers and Nighthawks Postpone Play on Father's Day - Sanford Mainers
- Two-Out Hits Put Moose Away - Sanford Mainers
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.
