Dukes Dealt Loss by High-Flying Gulls
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The Dukes would score first in this game. After making a diving catch to end the bottom of the first inning, Jason Martin (San Jose State) hit an RBI double down the third base line giving Pittsfield the 1-0 lead.
Dukes starter Matt Giusti (Stonehill College) had just three day's rest after Pittsfield's 12-3 fog-shortened win at Keene, N.H., on June 25. Giusti pitched a one-two-three first inning and worked his way into a jam in the second but was able to escape unscathed.
In the third, Newport would come alive with four consecutive two-out hits. The big blast came from Alex Gregory (Radford University), a three-run home run to deep center field for the 3-1 lead.
After retiring the first two hitters in the fourth, the Gulls would string together three more four-out hits in another three-run inning. With two outs, Taylor Meehan (Harvard) hit a double to right field, and Nick Santomauro (Dartmouth) followed with an RBI double to increase the lead to three runs. Mike Melillo (Elon) then clubbed a two-run home run, his second of three hits in the game, knocking Giusti out of the game, and handing Newport the 6-1 lead.
The five-run lead was more than enough for Gulls starter Neal Davis who threw six innings, only allowing the one run, on three hits and three walks. He also struck out five Dukes in the process.
With the score 7-1 in the 8th, Alex Gregory would add his second home run of the night and fourth of the season on a two run shot off Dukes reliever Jack Bender (Georgetown).
Pittsfield would score two runs in the 9th inning off reliever Chase Reid (Vanderbilt) but the Gulls reliever would close the door on the three inning save for the 9-3 Newport victory.
The No. 3 through 6 hitters really set the tone for Newport, going 12 for 19 (.631) with three home runs, seven RBI and five runs scored. Melillo finished three for five with two RBIs and Gregory finished with two home runs and five RBIs.
For the Dukes, Martin finished two for four with two runs batted in and Jayson Langels (Eastern Kentucky) went one for three scoring two of the Dukes' three runs.
The Newport victory ends a six-game losing streak and improves the Gulls' record to 7-8 on the season. Newport will travel to North Adams, Mass., and play the SteepleCats, who had the night off, in a 7 o'clock contest. Greg Holle (Texas Christian) is the probable starter for the Gulls.
The loss knocks Pittsfield out of first place and down to 8-10 with back-to-back losses. The Dukes will have Tuesday night off and will begin a five-game home stand on Wednesday night when they host the SteepleCats with Kyle Vazquez as the slated starter.
New England Collegiate Baseball League
Results for Monday, June 30th
For more detailed results and statistics, please visit www.necbl.com or http://www.necbl.com/nutshell.htm.
Newport 9, Pittsfield 3
Sanford 10, Vermont 3
Keene 15, Lowell 5
Torrington 7, Manchester 6
North Shore 9, Holyoke 1
Schedule for Tuesday, July 1st
Sanford @ Lowell 6:30pm
Torrington @ Manchester 7pm
Newport @ North Adams 7pm
