Big Third Inning Propels Swamp Bats Past 'Cats
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In the third of eight scheduled meetings between the two clubs, the Swamp Bats (10-4) inched a game in front of the SteepleCats (10-6) in the Western Division race, as both squads combined for only seven hits on the night.
North Adams starter Tyler Badamo (Dowling) lasted only 2 2/3 innings – his shortest outing of the year – while allowing five runs – all earned – while striking out three and walking three. The right-hander only yielded two hits, but it was the go-ahead three-run home run that proved to be his undoing on Wednesday.
Artie Lewicki, meanwhile, earned the victory after tossing six effective innings while scattering three hits. The Virginia product finished with seven strikeouts and four walks and surrendered two runs – one of them earned.
The SteepleCats hopped on top with a run manufactured by Roy in the top in the first. After drawing a leadoff walk, the URI sophomore stole second and third and later came in to score on a throwing error by the catcher to give the visitors an early 1-0 edge.
North Adams doubled that advantage as Roy once again scored off a two-out RBI single by Bryan Soloman (Eastern Kentucky) to put the SteepleCats ahead, 2-0, but Keene promptly notched five runs in the bottom of the third.
After Badamo yielded a walk and hit a batter to start things off, the third batter lined out hard to third base, but back-to-back walks forced in a run before a fielder’s choice tied the game up at 2-2.
But with two runners on, Walsh delivered a crushing blow, homering to deep left center to drive home three and round out the scoring in the most offensively productive inning of the game, running the home side’s lead to 5-2.
From that point on, both Lewicki and North Adams reliever Adam Sargent (Miami) combined to put up three scoreless innings of relief, as Lewicki struck out four over his remaining innings of work while Sargent retired the final 10 batters he faced while striking out four and walking two over 3 1/3 frames.
North Adams’ best chance came in the top of the eighth, as Roy led off the inning with a bunt single before Sheehan Planas-Arteaga (Barry) drew a hit-by-pitch to push the situation to first-and-second, nobody out. Despite a balk moving both runners into scoring position, reliever Ryan Horstman retired the ensuing three batters to keep the SteepleCats at bay.
That was the closest that the SteepleCats would get, as Kyle Gehrs came in for his third save of the season in the ninth to clinch the important victory for the Swamp Bats.
Both teams will do battle at Alumni Field once again tomorrow, as North Adams returns for the second of a two-game set on Thursday evening. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
Tags: SteepleCats,
