Mainers Take Down Mystic 6-5 in Walk-Off Fashion

Written by Jackson Walsh
Director of Broadcasting & Media

SANFORD, Maine – The Sanford Mainers defeated the Mystic Schooners 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth at Goodall Park. The win moves Sanford to 7-11, while Mystic drops to 9-12. 

Sanford had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, and Trey King (Georgia) coming to the plate. King got a bunt down in a sacrifice attempt, the throw to first trickled away and Ryan Kolben (UMass) came around from second to score the winning run. "Get your bunts down and you will win games," said Mainers manager Nic Lops. The Mainers capitalized on four Mystic errors throughout the night. 

Sanford allowed a run in the first but got three runs in the bottom of the second highlighted by a two RBI single from Kolben. The Mainers' catcher had two hits on the night. The game would go back and forth all the way until the final inning. Mystic was able to plate a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to regain the lead. Three of Mystics five runs were marked as unearned. Alex Cook (College of Charleston), Nic Melton (UNC Asheville), Sam Mitchell (Alabama), and Tyler Longoria (St. Johns) all had solid nights on the rubber. Longoria earned the win, it was his league-high fourth win on the mound. 

The game was 4-4 going into the eighth before Eric Cha (Northeastern) sent a ball over the left field wall for a solo homer. The homer gave Mystic a 5-4 lead. The Mainers defense did a great job to keep the deficit at a run by cutting down a runner at home to end the inning on a double to right. 

Sanford tied the game at five on a Charlie Jones (Georgia) sac-fly. Longoria fired a scoreless ninth before Sanford walked it off in the bottom half of the inning. 

The Mainers homestand continues tomorrow night at Goodall Park when the Valley Blue Sox come to town. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30. 

About the Sanford Mainers:
Sanford Mainers Baseball is Southern Maine's Premier Baseball Experience located in Sanford, Maine and is one of 13 members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, as well as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001, playing its first season in 2002. The Sanford Mainers are committed to providing an outlet for collegiate baseball players from across the country to assist in skill development, while also acting as a community partner to the Southern Maine region in regard to youth activities, internships, volunteerism, and more. The Mainers are two-time league champions, taking home the title in 2004 and 2008. For more information on the Sanford Mainers, please visit our website at www.sanfordmainers.com or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/sanfordmainers or on Twitter and Instagram at @sanford_mainers.