Swamp Bats knock Dukes out of 1st place
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Dukes starter Louie Bernardini (Wheaton College) and Swamp Bat starter Sean Tierney (Univ of Virginia) held the opposition scoreless through the first two innings, both stranding two runners on base.
Both teams would plate a run in the third inning as Evan Chambers (Univ of Florida) hit an RBI double in the top half but Domenic DiRicco (Cornell) would answer with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at one.
The fourth inning would be a breakout one for the Swamp Bats as Keene sent eleven hitters to the plate against Bernardini. The Swamp Bats would score six runs in the inning on three hits as the Dukes committed four errors in the field. Keene took advantage of the extra opportunities with RBI singles from Cliff Hicks (Franklin Pierce) and Dan Grovatt (Univ of Virginia) and a two run single from Casey McGrew (Wright State) as Kenne jumped out to the 7-1 lead.
Bernardini went 4 2/3 innings allowing seven runs (three earned) on seven hits. He also walked four in his second loss of the season. Jack Bender (Georgetown) pitched the next 3 2/3 innings allowing just one run and striking out six Swamp Bats.
In the meantime, Sean Tierney continued to pitch well for Keene holding the Dukes to just one run over his six innings of work. Tierney earned his second win of the season as he fanned five hitters against the NECBL leading offense.
Both teams would add a run in the eighth inning and Keene would take the 8-2 lead into the ninth. With two doubleheaders in the next two days, the Dukes turned to outfielder Domenic DiRicco (Cornell) to pitch. Keene would score three runs in the inning and would go on to win the game 11-2.
With the win, the Keene Swamp Bats improve to 22-16 on the season and maintain the third playoff spot in the NECBL’s Northern Division. Keene will travel back home tonight and host the Holyoke Blue Sox in a 5:15 contest at Alumni Field. Sean McDermott (Virginia Tech) will start for the Swamp Bats and he enters the game with a 2-2 record and 3.49 ERA.
The Dukes ( 22-15) have now lost three games in a row after losing two games today. After the Newport Gulls swept the Lowell All-Americans and Manchester Silkworms in a doubleheader, the Gulls have leapfrogged the Dukes for first place and lead by a half game. Pittsfield will travel down to Fuessenich Park in Torrington, CT tomorrow to take on the Twisters in a doubleheader beginning at five o’clock. Jake Sabol (Central Michigan) will start game one while Kyle Vazquez (Franklin Pierce) will throw in game two. Sabol is 2-1 on the season with a 2.66 ERA and will be making his first start since the loss to North Adams on June 13th. Vazquez is 3-0 with a 2.29 earned run average. The righthander has faced Torrington before throwing seven innings in a Pittsfield win on July 11th at Torrington.
Fans can listen to all Pittsfield Dukes games on the NECBL Broadcast Network by going to the site at http://www.teamline.cc/sportpage?teamcode=6301&eventcode=5
Tickets are still available for Dukes’ games at Wahconah Park. Tickets can be purchased at the Dukes box office at 105 Wahconah Street or by calling 413 447 DUKE (3853).
GAME NOTES: The seven errors by the Pittsfield Dukes ties a season high set on June 18th against the North Adams SteepleCats. The Dukes would commit five runs in the 2nd inning and would go on to lose the game 10-3…Dukes catcher Kevin Clements (Manchester CC) had four passed balls behind the plate tonight. In his last start, the Dukes catcher also had four passed balls in a game at Danbury on July 22nd…Dukes DH Mike Massery (American International) went 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts a day after getting his first NECBL hit.
Massery is now 1 for 16 on the season with 9 strikeouts…Dukes second baseman Craig Hertler (San Jose State) committed four errors in the game and now leads the NECBL with seventeen….Swamp Bats outfielder Evan Chambers extended his six game hitting streak to seven with a 2 for 4, 2 run, and 2 RBI performance. With a stolen base as well, Chambers takes over the team lead with thirteen. Chambers also walked twice and was on base four times in the game.
New England Collegiate Baseball League
Results for Monday, July 28th
For more detailed results and statistics, please visit www.necbl.com. or www.necbl.com/nutshell.htm.
Torrington 1, Pittsfield 0
Keene 11, Pittsfield 2
Sanford 10, Holyoke 4
Sanford 6, Holyoke 3
Vermont 5, North Shore 0
Newport 9, Lowell 2
Newport 6, Manchester 3
Schedule for Tuesday, July 29th
Holyoke @ Keene 7pm
Sanford @ Vermont (DH) 4pm
Danbury @ Manchester (DH) 4:30pm
North Adams @ Newport 6:35pm
Pittsfield @ Torrington (DH) 5pm
Lowell @ North Shore (DH) 4pm
