Boyce Lifts SteepleCats Over Navigators
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - SteepleCats starter Tim Boyce struck out 10 North Shore Navigators over eight innings of work as the SteepleCats defeated the Navigators 5-2 Friday night at Joe Wolfe Field. Boyce improved his record to 2-0 on the season after allowing just two runs. Navigators starter Jim Schult took the loss in his first start of the season and fell to 0-1 after allowing all five SteepleCats runs over 4.1 innings of work.The Navigators got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Ben Waldrip reached base on bloop double. He scored two batters later when Matt Marquis singled to left.
The SteepleCats scored their first two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. After Brandon Macias flew out to left to start the inning, Schult walked John Schultz and Paul Hoilman. After Tony Brunetti advanced the runners on a ground out, Matt Holt doubled to right field to bring both of them home and give the SteepleCats a 2-1 lead.
The SteepleCats added three more runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 5-1. Cameron McMullen and Matt Goulas reached base to start the inning and were sacrificed to second and third by Patrick Johnson. They both scored on a Brandon Macias single up the middle. Macias took third on a throwing error and scored on a John Schultz sacrifice fly to deep center.
The Navigators added one more run in the sixth inning, but that was all. Kevin Fuqua came in and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his fifth save of the season. The Navigators (16-9) are back at home tomorrow night to take on the Newport Gulls. The SteepleCats (15-11) will be at home to take on the Danbury Westerners.
