Mainers Drop Back-to-Back After 6-2 Loss to Upper Valley

By Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

SANFORD, Maine - For the first time all summer, the Sanford Mainers have lost consecutive games. The Moose fell 6-2 against the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Tuesday to drop to 16-9 on the year.

It was the Mainers debut for Austin Peay outfielder Aaron Jamison, who was hit by the very first pitch he saw. Jamison stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored when first baseman Brooks Perez roped a double to right-center, and it was 1-0 Mainers.

Upper Valley made sure Sanford didn't have control for long. Catcher Nick Quagliato hit an infield single to first base to drive in a run, and then Quagliato would eventually score on a wild pitch from Mainers starter Alfred Mucciarone. The UMass Lowell righty was solid through three innings, not allowing a run, but a shaky fourth frame resulted in a 2-1 Nighthawks lead.

The sixth inning was where things went in the wrong direction for the Moose. Upper Valley made it 3-1 on another Quagliato single. Then, outfielder Kyle Langley hit a triple into the right-center gap to score two runs. The Nighthawks tacked on another courtesy of a Tim DIckinson single to score Langley.

The Mainers could not find any offense after scoring in the second, and the frustration came to a head in the eighth. Manager Nic Lops was ejected from the game after disputing a strike-three call against outfielder Brendan Sencaj.

Sanford scored one run in the bottom of the ninth on a Jake Harring single, but a Jackson Sirois pop-out to first would strand the bases loaded, and the Nighthawks took it 6-2.

The Mainers can rebound Wednesday with a doubleheader against Martha's Vineyard. The Sharks boast the NECBL's top record at 18-5. First pitch in game one is at 4:30 p.m.