Waves fall in rain-shortened contest to Gulls, 7-4
June 20, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Ocean State Waves News Release
WAKEFIELD, R.I. - In a rivalry game filled with high emotions and down pouring rain, the Ocean State Waves lost 7-4 against the Newport Gulls in front of 505 fans at Old Mountain Field. In the second game of the 2015 Pell Bridge Series, Michael Mertz (Oklahoma State) pitched five innings for the Gulls, allowing only two runs on three hits while striking out seven batters. He was relieved by right-handed pitcher Troy DeLeon (Roger Williams), who allowed two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
The Gulls were quick to score in the top of the first inning after Joven Afenir (Kansas) started the inning with a single. Daniel Nichols (Georgia) followed his lead to hit another single to drive in Afenir. Reed Gamache (Binghamton), Drew Lugbauer (Michigan), and Nichols all came around to score for the Gulls and gain a four-run lead early in the game.
The Waves answered back in the second half of the first inning as Jake Palomaki (Boston College) scored on a sacrifice fly by Tim Lynch (Southern Mississippi). Newport would not let Ocean State close the gap however, and scored in four consecutive innings to lead with a score of 6-1.
Ocean State would not let up, Ryan Blanton scored in the bottom of the fifth, and following him was Palomaki and Lynch who both scored in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 6-4. Yet, after a rain delay, the Gulls struck again in the top of the sixth as Cooper Elliot scored on a wild pitch, giving the Gulls a three-run lead with a score of 7-4.
Due to the weather conditions, the game was called to an end in the seventh inning with a final score of 7-4. Tony Dibrell (Kennesaw), started on the mound for the Waves but was replaced by left-handed Andrew Wright (Southern California) in the top of the fourth. Wright was then replaced by Ricky Dennis (Monmouth) in the top of the seventh to finish for the Waves. Had the game not been called, David Gerber (Creighton) would have relived Dennis.
A few standouts from the Gulls today include Afenir, who went 3-for-4 with one run, a walk and a RBI. Lugbauer went 2-for-3 with two runs, Sean Bouchard (UCLA) went 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI, and both Elliot and Nichols were 1-for-3 on the day.
For Ocean State, Palomaki scored twice and walked twice, Tim Lynch went 1-for-1 with a RBI sac fly, a run, and two walks, and Chuckie Robinson (Southern Mississippi) went 2-for-3 with a RBI.
Head Coach and Assistant Manager Eric Cirella was ejected during the rain delay, and, due to his ejection, has to serve a one-game suspension during Sunday's game against the Mystic Schooners.
The Waves are set to play Sunday night at Old Mountain field against the Mystic Schooners. Mason Perryman (USC) will make his second start of the summer for the Waves, while the Schooners counter with Orlando Gonzalez III (Eastern Connecticut State). Tune into the NECBL Broadcast Network as Tim Scott and Alex Teixeira will bring you the call live online. First pitch is set for 4:05 at Old Mountain Field.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 20, 2015
- Waves fall in rain-shortened contest to Gulls, 7-4 - Ocean State Waves
- Mountaineers lose to Laconia - Vermont Mountaineers
- Keene Loses Another Divisional Game At The Hands Of Valley - Keene Swamp Bats
- Power hitting propels Pilgrims over Waves, 5-2 - Ocean State Waves
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