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Vermont Suffers Extra-Inning Loss to Nighthawks on Thursday Afternoon

July 13, 2023 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


HARTFORD, Vt. - After being away from the field due to flooding throughout the Green Mountain State for almost a week, the Vermont Mountaineers suffered an 11 inning 9-8 loss to the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Thursday afternoon from the Maxfield Sports Complex. It was the fourth game of the Governor's Cup Series, in which the Nighthawks now lead 3-1.

The Mountaineers, who still hold a 1.5 game lead in the North Division, drop to 17-11-1 while the Nighthawks bring their record to 15-2.

Vermont squandered a golden opportunity to strike first in the opening inning. Two hit batters and a walk loaded the bases for the visitors. A pop up to the infield got Upper Valley starter Patrick Gardner out of the inning.

The Nighthawks responded in the home half, taking a 1-0 lead. Ryan Cesarini reached base with a triple to center field. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Bruggeman. Vermont starter Eddie Sminkgot out of the frame with a groundout to short.

After a scoreless second, including Smink striking out the side in the bottom of the inning, Vermont tied the game at one in the third inning. Luke Cantwell walked with two outs and stole second. He scored on a two-out double to right field by Aaron Whitely.

The Nighthawks quickly regained the lead. A one-out walk to Dylan Palmer was followed up by a single to left field by Adarius Myers, putting runners on the corners. Palmer scored on a ground out while Myers eventually came around on a RBI single by Bruggeman with two outs. Colton Book came in relief and got the final out on a strikeout to strand two runners.

After a scoreless fourth and fifth innings, the Nighthawks tacked on two more runs to take a 5-1 lead in the sixth, thanks to a two-out error.

The Mountaineers came within a run in the seventh. Brandon Butterworth led off the frame with a double and then Grant Voytovich singled to move Butterworth to third. Cantwell made it 5-2 with a single to right field and then a double by Santino Rosso scored Voytovich. Cantwell scored on a ground out by Tyler Cox to make it 5-4.

After both teams went down in order in the eighth inning, Voytovich started the ninth with a double and came around to score on a single by Cantwell to tie the game at five.

Vermont took a two-run lead in the top of the 10th. With Whitley on second, Cox advanced to first on an infield single. Whitley and Cox came around to score on a single by Marshall Toole.

Upper Valley tied the game right up in the home half of the 10th to force another extra frame. In the 11th, Vermont tacked on the go-ahead run in the 11th as Butterworth scored on a sacrifice fly by Rosso to make it 8-7.

The Nighthawks loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th and Brian Foley got two outs on an infield pop up and a force out at home. However, a bases loaded walk tied the game and a walk-off single by Austin Beck scored the winning run.

The Mountaineers head to Keene, New Hampshire tomorrow to face the Swamp Bats at Alumni Field. The season series between the two teams is tied at two. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. from Alumni Field. You can follow all the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network here.

For continuing coverage of the Vermont Mountaineers, bookmark thevermontmountaineers.com and follow the Mountaineers on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and on TikTok.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 13, 2023


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