Five run eight inning
leads All-Americans to victory over Dukes
By: Michael Radomski
(LOWELL, Mass.)- The Lowell
All-Americans didn't hold a lead until the eight inning when they
scored five runs off the Pittsfield Dukes relievers on their way to
a 8-4 victory.
In the first matchup between the two clubs this season, hitters were
held scoreless through the first three innings as Lowell starter Dan
Lozeau (Bryant University) and Dukes starter Kyle Vazquez (Franklin
Pierce) were locked in a pitchers duel.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Dukes would score first with a
runner on second with two outs. J.T. Musso (BYU) was hit by a pitch,
but called back by home plate umpire Gerald Bilodeau. Later in the
at bat, Musso would hit an RBI single scoring the reigning co-NECBL
player of the week Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne) to give Pittsfield the
1-0 lead.
Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptist) then followed with a 2-run home run to
the short porch in right field to put Pittsfield up by three runs.
The large deficit was short lived though, as Vazquez ran into
trouble in the bottom half. Pat McKenna (Bryant University) scored
from third on a passed ball from J.T. Musso, for their first run of
the game. Then, a sacrifice fly from Kevin Rivers (Franklin Pierce)
cut the deficit to just one run.
With the Dukes leading three to two, both teams would go scoreless
in the fifth inning. A single from Matt Adams (Slipper Rock)
followed by an RBI single from J.T. Musso would give Pittsfield the
4-2 lead and chase Lozeau from the game after 5 1/3 innings pitched.
Zach Anderson (Buffalo) entered in the bottom of the sixth inning to
relieve Vazquez and got into trouble early on. With one out, Mike
Baillargeon (Assumption College) hit a slow roller to third that
Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo) fielded and overthrew to first, enabling
Baillergeon to move to second base.
A wild pitch would move the runner over to third, and Baillergeon
would score on Kevin Rivers' second sacrifice fly of the game to cut
the deficit to one run again.
Joey Lucier (Worcester State) held the Dukes in check for two
innings, setting up the bottom of the eight inning.
Dukes closer Adam Knight (Georgia State) was called in for the
two-inning save and got off to a rough start. Leadoff hitter Pat
McKenna hit a game-tying leadoff home run over the 380 foot sign in
left field. Then, a single, a walk, and a hit batsman later, Knight
was chased from the game. Manager Mike Marron then brought in
reliever Jack Bender (Georgetown) the former closer on last year's
Dukes squad.
With the bases loaded and no one out, Bender retired Pat O'Connor
(Bryant University) on strikes for the first out, but then walked in
the go-ahead run as Matt Colantonio (Brown University) drew ball
four. The All-Americans would add two more runs and hand the ball to
reliever Cory Moore (Curry College) in hopes of closing the game
out.
Moore got into a little trouble loading up the bases with two outs,
but struck out Tyler Stampone (William & Mary) to finish the 8-4
victory for Lowell.
The All-Americans have now won four games after losing their first
five games. The Dukes,on the other hand, have lost four of their
last five after winning their first four games.
The Dukes will travel back to Pittsfield tonight and host the
Sanford Mainers with Alex MacKenzie (Canisius) slated as the
probable starter. The Lowell All-Americans will travel down to
Torrington to play the Twisters on Friday night with Conor Fahey (WPI)
as the projected starter. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7
o'clock.
