Sanford Pulls Ahead Late to Beat Ocean State 6-2
Mainers break a 1-1 tie in the seventh to sweep Waves
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | X | 6 | 10 | 1 |
Written by Cole Purvis
Director of Broadcasting and Media
SANFORD, Maine - The Sanford Mainers took care of business against the Ocean State Waves at Goodall Park on Monday night, winning 6-2. It was a matchup that heavily favored the Moose, who came in as the top record-holder in the NECBL's North Division, with the Waves sitting in last place of the South Division.
The Mainers jumped on the board in the second inning, when first baseman Steven Kraus doubled, and outfielder Jack Tate scored him from second with a single up the middle to make it 1-0.
However, Ocean State proved that anyone can hang with anyone in this league. The Waves kept the Mainers scoreless for the next four innings.
UConn pitcher Drew Smith got the start for Sanford, and displayed excellent command. Smith frequently painted the outside of the zone, freezing hitters and keeping a shutout through five frames. He exited after 5.1 innings, striking out nine, which is just shy of his season-high of 10.
Reliever Gabe Gifford came in for Smith, who had left one runner on base. That runner, Gabriel Milano, came in to score Ocean State's first run of the night when Thomas Meluskey singled to drive him in. Despite Smith's excellent effort, the Mainers were still tied with the last-place Waves after six.
The Moose had the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, when Ocean State brought righty Trey Telfer into the game. Telfer got Brennan Staubley to strike out, and Brendan Sencaj to hit a grounder to short that looked like a double-play ball. The Waves got the first out at second, but an errant throw to first sailed under the glove of Samuel Fernandez. The miscue allowed both Albert De La Rosa and Steven Kraus to score, giving the Moose a 3-1 lead.
Sanford blew it open in the eighth. Antonio Morales reached on a hit by pitch, stole second, and advanced for third on a throwing error. Jake Harring walked to put runners on the corners. Then, Brian Connolly struck a single up the middle to bring Morales home and advance Harring to third. Moments later, the Mainers tried a double-steal, with Connolly being thrown out at second and Harring scoring a run. Later in the frame, Brennan Staubley would hit a sac-fly to score De La Rosa, making it 6-1.
Closer Matt Mahoney came in for the ninth inning, and walked in a run. However, he left the bases loaded right after that, holding on for a 6-2 Mainers victory.
Sanford takes both games against Ocean State this season and moves to 24-12, while the Waves fall to 11-24.
The Mainers beat the last-place team in the South Division, and play the last-place squad in the North tomorrow, facing the North Adams SteepleCats for a doubleheader. The first game gets going at 4 p.m. from Joe Wolfe Field in Massachusetts. Both games are streaming on NECBL+.