Mounties Hang on for Win Over Hurricanes
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Senior Tommy Nowlan was on cruise control, giving up just two hits and two runs through six innings of work against Hoosac Valley on Saturday. Then came the top of the seventh, when the Hurricanes scratched and clawed their way to four runs to cut the Mounties lead down to just a single run. With Nowlan running out of gas, Greylock head coach Steve Messina turned to sophomore hurler Andrew Leitch, who got the final two outs to earn the save and preserve a 7-6 win for the Mounties.Greylock improved its record to 5-6 with the win and was also able to avenge an earlier 6-3 loss to Hoosac (5-5) earlier in the season. Nowlan was in control for much of the game, allowing three earned runs on only two hits, striking out six and walking five batters to improve his season record to 4-2. The Mounties captain only allowed a second-inning double to Hurricanes senior Nick Bourdon in the second inning and a seventh-inning single to classmate Aaron Solari in the seventh inning, but somehow still couldn't shake free of a resilient Hoosac squad.
A one-out sacrifice fly by Bourdon cut the Greylock lead down to one, but Leitch came in and got out of the jam by striking out Slayter Aubin to end the game. Bourdon went 1 for 3 with two runs batted in, while Solari went 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Bob Rivard's club had a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth frame, when the Mounties brought home a pair of runs. They added one more run in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth to open a comfortable 7-2 lead. Sophomore Sean Houston led the Greylock offense with three hits, one RBI and two runs scored, while Nowlan and classmate Brandon DeCelles each chipped in with two RBI apiece.
Three different pitchers took the mound for the Hurricanes. Reliever Nate Alibozek was charged with the loss, allowing three earned runs in two innings of work after taking over for starter Connor Tworig in the third inning.
The Mounties next host St. Joe's at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, while Hoosac hosts Lenox at the same time that day.