Gulls Edge SteepleCats 3-2
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The SteepleCats took an early 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. With one out in the inning, Jonny Smith and Patrick Johnson hit back-to-back singles up the middle. The two moved to second and third base after a groundout to second base by Tony Brunetti. The next batter, David Villasuso, singled up the middle to bring both runners to the plate. For Villasuso, it was his first two runs driven in of the season.
The Gulls got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on an error by SteepleCats second baseman Jonny Smith. With two outs, Smith misplayed an Ian Tompkins groundball, allowing Mike Melillo to score from third. Aaron Westlake attempted to score from second base on the play, but was cut down by shortstop Brandon Macias at the plate. Westlake was ejected after the play for shoving SteepleCats catcher David Villasuso.
In the fifth inning, Gulls center fielder Joey Manning Homer off of SteepleCats starter Brach Davis to tie the game at 2. When he came up again with a runner on second and one out in the seventh inning, Davis was lifted in favor of Ryan Fraser. It made no difference to Manning, who singled up the middle to plate pinch runner David Bentrott. It made the score 3-2, which would be the final.
Davis pitched 6.1 innings for the SteepleCats, allowed five hits, three runs, two earned runs, took the loss and falls to 0-1 on the season. Colby Hawk went 7.1 innings for the Gulls, got the win, and improves to 1-0. Matt Branham picked up the save for the Gulls, his first of the season.
The Gulls travel to Pittsfield tomorrow night to take on the American Defenders while the SteepleCats return home to take on the Holyoke Blue Sox at Joe Wolfe Field at 7 p.m.
