North Shore's four run ninth inning extends Pittsfield losing steak 6-3
 |
Dukes starter Kyle Vazquez (Franklin Pierce) pitched seven strong innings for Pittsfield striking out seven North Shore hitters and only yielding two runs.
Sean McNaughton (BYU) hit a two run triple in the 3rd inning to give the Navigators a 2-0 lead, but it was only short lived. In the bottom of the inning, Pittsfield would score three runs on no hits as North Shore starter Mike Adams (Franklin Pierce) would walk four hitters and hit two before being taken out for reliever Ryan Krull (Bellarmine University).
Krull would enter with the bases loaded, two outs, and the Navigators down by a run, but he got Billy Messer to strike out and end the inning. The left-hander would pitch 3 2/3 innings in relief holding the Dukes scoreless and giving his team the opportunity to stay in the game.
Vazquez and Krull would go toe to toe until the 8th inning when Dukes reliever Zach Anderson (Buffalo) entered the game. Justin Little (Mesa State College) hit a one out single and Tyler Kuehl (Point Loma Nazarene) moved him to second with two outs. Pinch hitter Jay McConnell then walked to load up the bases but was picked off at first base by J.T. Musso (BYU). Musso threw down to first and first baseman Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) McConnell out to end the inning. It was one of four such innings in which a Navigator was thrown out trying to advance to end an inning.
The Dukes failed to add to the lead in the 8th, and sent out Jack Bender (Georgetown) to close the game. Nick Belcher (East Tennessee State) lined out on the first pitch, but Bender would walk the next two hitters. A passed ball allowed the runners to each move up one base respectively and Bender then intentionally walked Ryan McCrann (Fordham) to load up the bases with one out.
The Pittsfield defense would play in as pinch hitter Chad Zurcher (University of Memphis) hit a ground ball to 3rd and Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) would throw home to Musso for the force out. With two outs, Little would hit a ground ball to the right side hole that Craig Hertler was able to field and throw over to first but Matt Adams had trouble finding the bag on the play. Base umpire Steve Sanderson ruled Little safe as the Navigators tied the game at three.
Kuehl would then follow with an RBI single to give North Shore the 4-3 lead knocking Bender out of the game. With the bases still loaded, reliever Mike Woytek (Wright State) would enter the game and give up a two run double to McNaughton. The ball then trickled away and Kuehl tried to score as well but was thrown out at the plate to end the four run inning.
North Shore would take the 6-3 lead into the ninth, and closer Chris Prescott (St. Joseph's University) would hold the Dukes scoreless to secure the victory.
With the win, North Shore improves to 9-5 on the season and they will host the Manchester Silkworms with Adam Herter (Point Loma Nazarene) as the probable starter. For Pittsfield, the Dukes have now lost seven straight games and will travel to New Hampshire to play the Keene Swamp Bats tomorrow night at seven. Matt Giusti (Stonehill College) is the probable starter. www.pittsfielddukes.com
New England Collegiate Baseball League
Results for Wednesday, June 25th
For more detailed results and statistics, please visit www.necbl.com or http://www.necbl.com/nutshell.htm.
Sanford 6, Danbury 2
Vermont 7, Newport 5
Torrington 7, Holyoke 3
North Shore 6, Pittsfield 3
North Adams 10, Lowell 7
Team China 9, Keene 7 (Exhibition)
Schedule for Thursday, June 26th
Newport @ Holyoke 6:30pm
Lowell @ Danbury 7pm
Manchester @ North Shore 7pm
Pittsfield @ Keene 7pm
Vermont @ Torrington 7pm
Sanford @ North Adams 7pm
