NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Trailing by three runs in the sixth, the SteepleCats tacked on a run each in three consecutive innings to tie it but whiffed on a bases-loaded, nobody-out opportunity at the plate before Keene came back with a run in the top of the ninth to come away with a 6-5 decision over the SteepleCats in a rain-delayed Monday night showdown at Joe Wolfe Field.

 

Completing a comeback from a 5-2 deficit in what appeared to be a promising bottom of the eighth, the SteepleCats (4-4) wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead with runners on each bag with nobody out.

 

But reliever Paul Covelle came out in a precarious situation and registered three straight strikeouts to keep the Swamp Bats (2-4) out of harm's way, and then in the top of the ninth, cleanup hitter Eric Gutierrez provided the game-deciding RBI double to score Dylan Moore, and Covelle stayed on to pick up the win in relief in the ninth.

 

North Adams, however, had plenty of chances, finishing the night 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position while adding to its league-leading total in men left on base, stranding 13 more on the night.

 

Keene finished the game with 12 hits, out-hitting the 'Cats by three, while North Adams committed three errors compared to one miscue for the Swamp Bats. J.P. Sportman and Gutierrez each finished with two hits for the visitors, while junior Joe Landi (Rhode Island) finished 4-for-5 at the dish of the home side.

 

Sophomore lefty Casey Brown (CCSU) lasted just 4 1/3 frames in his first appearance in eight days, surrendering five runs — four earned — on eight hits while striking out four and walking two, settling for a no decision on the night. His counterpart, 2012 SteepleCat alum Brian Hunter did not fare much better, taking a no decision after lasting 3 1/3 innings, surrendering two earned runs on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts.

 

Out of the bullpen, Covelle finished with the win after Sam Triece walked three to blow the win for reliever Jordan Simons, who struck out six over 3 2/3 frames. Sophomore Doug Willey (Franklin Pierce) was handed the tough loss after yielding a leadoff single in the ninth Moore, while classmate Toby Schwartz (Lafayette) surrendered the game-deciding double and finished with a strikeout.

 

Keene opened the scoring with a three-spot in the top of the third against Brown. A leadoff single from Robbie Cafiero started it off before 2012 Swamp Bat All-Star Sportman singled in a run, followed by an RBI double from Gutierrez. Finally, Daniel Nichols wrapped up the frame with a run-scoring single through the left side to push the visitors up 3-0.

 

North Adams responded with two in the bottom of the fourth, chasing Hunter after three consecutive walks. With the bases loaded and nobody out, however, North Adams mustered just an RBI single off the bat of freshman Brad Anderson (Pepperdine) and a run-scoring groundout to cut the deficit to one (3-2).

 

The Swamp Bats came right back with two runs in the top of the fifth, extending their lead back to three. Sportman struck again for a leadoff double before Nichols drove him in on another two-bagger to left, and Matt Ford’s first hit of the summer brought in another Keene run, running up the lead to 5-2.

 

The SteepleCats would come back with a run in the sixth on an RBI base knock from Landi before junior Cody Doyle (Cal State LA) brought in another on an RBI double in the seventh. Then, in the eighth, North Adams loaded the bases on two walks and a Landi single before Triece forced in the first run on another walk.

 

But with the bases still juiced, Covelle came on and got out of trouble with three straight strikeouts, setting up Gutierrez's heroics in the ninth.

 

The SteepleCats hit the road on Tuesday, making the trek up to Vermont to battle the Mountaineers for the second matchup this year. First pitch from Montpelier Recreation Field is set for 6:30 p.m.