Mainers Win 4-2 Battle With Mountaineers

Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

MONTPELIER, Vermont - The Sanford Mainers worked past a pair of key injuries in a gritty 4-2 win at the Vermont Mountaineers on Saturday night.

Both starting pitchers, Sanford's Andrew Middleton and Vermont's Evan Hoekele, bent without breaking in the first three innings. Each allowed multiple runners to reach base at different points, but didn't allow a run through three innings. 

In the top of the fourth, Sanford center fielder Nick Zampieron left the game after being drilled in the hand by a pitch. He was replaced in center by Jack Tate for the rest of the night. The next batter, Jackson Sirois, injured his leg sprinting for first base, forcing Brian Connolly to substitute for him. It was a tough pill to swallow for the Moose, who lost two of their hottest hitters in a matter of minutes.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Mountaineers became the first to strike when Vinny Davis went deep to left to make it 1-0. Middleton then surrendered a double to Eliot Miles, who would eventually cross home on a Sebastian Collender RBI single, putting the 'Neers up 2-0.

In the fifth, Sanford catcher Dom Tozzi changed everything with one swing. With Brendan Sencaj on, the Coastal Carolina product lifted a two-run homer to right-center to knot the contest at 2-2. 

"It felt unbelievable…got us going offensively," said Tozzi, whose homer traveled over 390 feet. The catcher has homers in back-to-back games, after going yard against Danbury on Thursday.

The game stayed tied entering the eighth. The Mainers loaded the bases for left fielder Nater Wachter, who was previously 0-3. Wachter proved there was no better time for his first hit, however, belting a single to left that brought both Sam Miller and Jake Harring. The Mainers led it 4-2.

Sanford's bullpen was lights out the rest of the way. Reliever Ian Mowad took over for Middleton in the fifth and threw four innings, giving up zero runs and just two hits. Matt Mahoney took the ball for the ninth and threw a scoreless inning for the save.

"I think it's huge. You're going to have to face adversity every year, no matter what," said Tozzi, discussing his team's effort to win despite injuries and absences.

The Mainers are 8-1 on the road and 13-5 overall. They're back in action Monday night, facing the Newport Gulls at Cardines Field in Rhode Island. That game is streaming on ESPN+.