Waves rally late for first win against in-state rivals
Published on June 29, 2013 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
Wakefield, RI - The Newport Gulls saw their five-game win streak snapped, suffering their first road loss of the season, 5-4, at the hands of the Ocean State Waves at Old Mountain Field on Saturday, June 29th.
The Eastern Division leading Gulls suffer just their fifth loss of the season, falling to 11-5 overall, while Ocean State improves to 11-8 with the victory. Newport is 2-1 lead in the season series against their in-state rivals this summer.
Newport starting pitcher Mick VanVossen earned a no-decision in his fourth start of the season, giving up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits with zero walks and a pair of strikeouts. The Michigan State right-hander threw 80 pitches, 53 for strikes. Reliever Kyle McGrath suffered a loss in his first appearance of the season, giving up an un-earned run on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts over two innings of work.
Ocean State starter Tyler Bowditch lasted just four and two thirds innings giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Connor Kelly threw a scoreless inning and a third in relief before giving way to Oliver Powers who pitched three scoreless innings to pick up the win in relief.
The Waves jumped out to the early lead plating a pair of runs in the first inning thanks to RBI singles from outfielders Mike Gerber and Shaun McGraw.
Newport responded with four un-answered runs in the third and fourth innings to take the lead. Gulls second baseman Shea Donlin scored on an error in the third inning, while catcher Ethan Ferreira delivered a two-run double and outfielder David Graybill scored on an error in the fourth inning to put the Gulls ahead 4-2.
Ocean State plated runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to come from behind for a 5-4 victory. The Waves scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when a thick fog rolled in to Old Mountain Field. Right fielder Walker Moses doubled to lead off the inning before third baseman Caden Bailey flew out to left for the first out. Shortstop Christian Muscarello reached on an error before Gerber struck out. The Gulls had a chance to get out of the inning but a towering pop up on the infield by McGraw that fell for a hit when the Newport infield couldn't find it in the thick fog. McGraw's single allowed Moses to score the go-ahead run from third.
Newport will be back in action taking on the Laconia Muskrats at Cardines Field on Monday, July 1st. Darin Gillies (0-0, 5.14 ERA) will make his first start of the season for Newport.
Since moving to Newport in 2001, the Gulls have captured the New England Collegiate Baseball League championship, the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup, an NECBL-record five times, and in 2012 were named the No. 1 summer collegiate team in the country by Perfect Game USA in Perfect Game's Top 50 final rankings, capping a record-breaking season by Newport and marking the first time ever that an NECBL franchise has been ranked No. 1 nationally.
The Gulls, which attract more than 50,000 fans annually to historic Cardines Field in Newport, recruit players from the top college baseball programs in the country, and to date have sent six alumni to Major League Baseball teams, and over 150 players to professional baseball teams ranging from Independent leagues to Triple-A.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 29, 2013
- Waves rally late for first win against in-state rivals - Newport Gulls
- Ocean State defeats Newport, 5-4 - Ocean State Waves
- Swamp Bats Fall In Extra Innings To Vermont 5-4 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Danbury Hosts Mystic Schooners - Danbury Westerners
- Wally the Green Monster to appear at MacKenzie Stadium - Valley Blue Sox
- Blue Sox Add Two to Roster - Valley Blue Sox
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