Mainers Beat Westerners 7-3 to Snap Four-Game Skid

By Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

SANFORD, Maine - The Sanford Mainers snapped a four-game losing streak on Friday night, taking down the Danbury Westerners 7-3 at Goodall Park to sweep the season series between the two.

Through the first four innings, this game was a pitchers' duel between Sanford lefthander Andrew Middleton and Danbury righty Hayden Tarsia. It was a scoreless contest headed into the bottom of the fifth, when the Mainers threatened by loading the bases with nobody out. When Albert De La Rosa and Nater Wachter struck out, it appeared Tarsia had found his rhythm and would pull a Houdini act to get out of the jam. That was until Mainers first baseman Steven Kraus grounded one through the right side and into the outfield for a two RBI base-hit. The Binghamton product's second hit of the evening gave Sanford a 2-0 lead.

Middleton worked through five innings, allowing three hits, no runs, and striking out nine. His top-tier performance set up Brennan Rumph, who entered the game in the sixth with some run support. Rumph mowed the Westies down in the next three innings, keeping Sanford's shutout in tact late.

The Mainers offense added to its tally in the seventh. With the bases juiced and two out once again, Troy Carpenter singled through the left side to bring home Wachter and Jake Harring. Shortly after, the Moose loaded the bases for a second time in the inning, and Dom Tozzi walked to bring in a run to make it 7-0 Mainers.

Danbury spoiled the shutout in the ninth. Singles from Ryan Martin and Reuben Livingston, along with a wild pitch that scored Peter Link, allowed the Westerners to put up a three-spot. The Mainers stopped the bleeding from there, and won 7-3.

Sanford gets back in the win column for the first time in a week, and remains atop the NECBL North division. The Mainers travel to Vermont to face the Mountaineers on Saturday at 6:30.