Sanford Drops Both Games of Doubleheader Against Martha’s Vineyard
Mainers fall twice in a battle of heavyweights
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 4 | 1 |
By Cole Purvis
Director of Broadcasting and Media
OAK BLUFFS, Mass. - The Sanford Mainers fell twice to the Martha's Vineyard Sharks on Wednesday in a matchup of the top record-holders in the NECBL.
Game One: The first game of the twin-bill was a breakout game for Mainers third baseman Brian Connolly. The Rhode Island product put the Moose up 1-0 with an RBI single in the second. Sanford doubled that lead just moments later when Troy Carpenter scored on a wild pitch.
However, everything changed in the blink of an eye when the fifth inning rolled around. With Ian Mowad on the mound for the Mainers, the Sharks pushed across three runs. The first came on a wild pitch; the next by way of a Nick Rubino two-run single to give Martha's Vineyard a 3-2 advantage.
Sharks second baseman Will Shaheen provided insurance in the sixth by blasting a solo shot to left, making it 4-2.
Sanford responded, as Connolly hit his first home run of the summer to nearly the same spot that Shaheen's went. It was 4-3, and the Mainers were breathing down the Sharks' necks.
However, the Vineyard strengthened their grasp in the seventh, as Rubino's sac-fly made it 5-3, which would end up being the final.
Game two: Charlie Hale got the start for the Moose in the back-end of the doubleheader, and surrendered an early run, but settled in after that. The righty went four innings, allowing three hits and one earned run.
The two Shark runs were scored courtesy of RBI singles: one from Rubino in the first, and a second from Mason Scott (who made his season debut) in the fourth.
The Mainers could not get the bats going and were shut out in the shortened game
"We certainly have to address some things," said manager Nic Lops. "We're gonna hit the drawing board Friday, because, it's not the end of the world, the sky isn't falling, but that's our fourth loss in a row and there's a couple things I'm seeing that need to change with this group."
The Mainers have the day off on Thursday and battle the Danbury Westerners at home on Friday. First pitch from Goodall Park is at 6:30 p.m.