MacKenzie and Dukes' bats
sparkle in 2nd straight win
By: Michael Radomski
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.)-
Following a seven game losing streak, the Dukes have now won back to
back games following an 8-2 victory over the Torrington Twisters at
Wahconah Park.
Starter Alex MacKenzie (Canisius) started the game by striking out
all three hitters he faced in the first inning. The Canisius student
athlete struck out Corey Shimada (Utah) and Joe De Pinto (USC)
looking, and then retired Chase Austin (Elon) swinging to set down
the Twisters in the first.
Torrington starter Josh Zeid (Tulane) set down the Dukes 1-2-3 in
his first inning, but really struggled in the second. Following a
leadoff walk to Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptist) and a fly out by
Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky), Zeid would give up three
consecutive hits.
Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) and Perry Silverman (Canisius) singled to
load up the bases with one out. Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo) followed
with a bases clearing double to the left center field gap, scoring 3
Dukes on the play, and giving Pittsfield the 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Dukes continued to tag the Twister
starter. Zeid came into the game without allowing a run in NECBL
play, but Pittsfield would continue their powerful hitting. Adams
would record on his second hit of the game, a two run double to left
field, to increase the lead to five. The Dukes would add another run
in the inning as Rosenbeck added his fourth run of the game on an
RBI single to give Pittsfield the 6-0 lead.
With the big lead, MacKenzie continued to pitch well in his fourth
start of the season. He only allowed two hits scattered over the
first five innings, striking out four on the evening.
Torrington would score in the 6th inning on a groundout from De
Pinto, and an RBI single from Bryson Rahier (San Jose State) in the
seventh to close the gap to four runs.
Trailing 6-2, Zeid stayed on the mound for the 7th as Pittsfield
would take the run right back. Perry Silverman reached on a
fielder's choice as Krizan scored to give Pittsfield the 7-2 lead.
MacKenzie stayed out for the 8th inning and retired the hitters in
order as he exited the game with a five run lead. Pittsfield would
add another run in the eighth as Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne College)
hit an RBI triple to right field off reliever Alex Valadja ( JMU) as
the Dukes would take the 8-2 lead and would go on to win by that
score.
Adam Knight (Georgia State) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to
preserve the win as the Dukes win their second-straight game and
record their first win at Wahconah Park since a June 9th victory
against Danbury.
Pittsfield improves to 7-8 with the victory and will travel down to
Manchester, CT tomorrow night to play the Silkworms in a seven
o'clock contest. Michael Ness (Duke) is the probable starter for
Pittsfield with a 0.95 ERA in his three starts.
With the loss, Torrington drops to 6-7 on the season after losing
their second straight game. The Twisters will return home tonight
and host the North Adams SteepleCats at Fuessenich Park. The game is
scheduled to start tomorrow evening at seven with Eric Jokisch
(Northwestern) as the projected starter.
