Sanford Scores Early, Holds On For 3-2 Win at Mystic

By Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

GROTON, Connecticut - The Sanford Mainers received a rare two-day break after rainouts postponed games against Martha's Vineyard on Monday and at Bristol on Tuesday. As a result, the Moose began their annual Connecticut road trip a day later than anticipated, beating the Schooners in a narrow 3-2 contest.

The Mainers scored all three runs in the first two innings. With two outs and nobody on base in the top of the first, third baseman Troy Carpenter went deep to right. His second long-ball of the summer made it 1-0.

In the second, the Mainers hit five straight singles, with Sam Miller and Jake Harring driving in runs. However, the bases loaded and one out, Sanford missed the chance to blow it open. Designated hitter Brendan Sencaj grounded into a 5-2-3 double-play to end the inning with the Moose up 3-0.

Mainers starting pitcher Charlie Hendrix put together another quality inning to continue his strong summer. The Georgetown Hoya threw four innings, giving up just one run.

That lone Mystic score against Hendrix came in the second when the Schooners bashed back-to-back doubles, as Cam Righi was sent home by Anthony Belisario to make it 3-1.

From there, each team continued to knock on the door offensively, but the score would hold. That was until the eighth inning.

The Schooners loaded the bases with no outs off of Mainers reliever Sam Young. The Richmond righty battled back with two straight K's, and got ahead in the count on the next hitter. However, on an 0-2 count, a balk was called to bring in a run and make it 3-2. Young recovered to strike out the hitter, setting up an opportunity for a Mystic walk-off in the ninth.

Young made sure that didn't happen. A 1-2-3 final frame secured the 3-2 win for the Mainers. 

"We gotta get better, plain and simple," said manager Nic Lops, adding that he feels his team should've scored more early. "But, nice to win a close ball game on the road."

On Young's late-game performance, Lops said "some of the best composure I've seen in the NECBL. He's got elite stuff, he trusts his stuff, and there was no panic from him."

Sanford wraps up its Connecticut road trip with a showdown at Danbury tomorrow at 6:30. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.