LEWISTON, Maine – An 1.5 shy of playing two complete games and the game on the brink of being called on account of darkness, the Bates baseball team loaded the bags and took advantage, scoring the winning run a sacrifice fly to take down Suffolk, 2-1, at Leahey Field Thursday night.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1, Bates 2 – 12 Innings
RECORDS: Suffolk (26-14) | Bates (15-17)
HOW IT HAPPENDED
Suffolk wasted no time to go ahead in the closer as Brady Chant sent one over the fence in the very first at bat of the game.
From there, the game turned into a standstill. Neither team put a run on the board for the next six half innings where the Bobcats made things interesting. In the home half of the seventh and two outs from the win, Bates evened the playing field at 1-all. Pat Beaton walked to start the rally with John Dinucci taking his pace on the bags before Will Sylvia bunted him over 90-feet. Brendan Fox drew a walk and Ryan McCarthy singled in Dinuccis to tie things up.
Both teams went down in order in the eighth and the Rams looked to make a move in the ninth. With one out, Kevin Belskie and BJ Neil smacked back-to-back singles. With two away, Chant stepped to the plate and Will Slayne got him to line out to center to end the inning. The first time the Bobcats got Chant out on the day came at the perfect time.
Down the stretch and two arms later, Brendon Canavan singled to begin the 12th frame. Kyle Carter pinch ran and Connor DiVincezo wore a pitch. A wild pitch moved both runners over and the Rams elected to intentionally walk Giovanni Torres to set up a force at any base. Trulli made them pay by hitting a fly ball deep enough to center to plate the winning run, Carter.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Belskie put together a 4-for-5 effort at the plate with Chant and Neil collecting two hits on the outing.
- Chant was the lone Ram to make it around the bags with the junior centerfielder knocking a solo shot for Suffolk's lone run and one RBI.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Suffolk used four arms out of its pen, while Bates used a trio of hurlers.
- Worth Walrod earned the nod and went through 5.0 innings of scoreless work, allowing just two hits and one walk to go along with eight strikeouts.
- Curtis Tirone dealt 2.0 frames with the sophomore allowing one run on one hit with three walks.
- Kevin Sinatra came in for 3.0 innings. The sophomore kept the Bobcats scoreless, giving up just two hits and one walk with three Ks.
- Mark Fusco suffered the setback as the junior let in the one run on two hits and one walk in the final 1.2.
- Miles Michaud picked up the win, keeping the Rams scoreless through the final 3.0 innings with Suffolk producing just one hit.
NOTEWORTHY
- The one-run game marks the 14th contest determined by one run for Suffolk this season, with the Rams winning 10 of the outings.
- Suffolk played in its fourth extra inning game of the season.
- The Rams move to 6-3 in extra innings under Anthony Del Prete.
COMING UP
Suffolk is back in action tomorrow as it heads to Worcester State for a 12 p.m., nine-inning tilt.