2nd straight 7th inning comeback fuels
Pittsfield victory
By: Michael Radomski
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.)- For the
second night in a row, the Pittsfield Dukes used a seventh inning
rally to comeback for a victory at Wahconah Park. This time the
Dukes four run inning propelled Pittsfield to a 6-4 win over the
visiting Newport Gulls.
Newport would get off to the early lead in the first inning off of
Dukes starter Michael Ness (Duke). Alex Gregory (Radford University)
hit a sinking line drive to left field that got past Chris Edmondson
and rolled away from him. Former Duke Taylor Meehan (Harvard) scored
on the error and Newport had the 1-0 lead. An RBI groundout from
Mike Tamsin (Northeastern) would give Gulls starter Chad Arnold
(Washington State) a 2-0 lead to work with.
Arnold set down the Dukes in order in the first inning but the
second inning was a different story as the Dukes sent 7 hitters to
the plate. It all started with Jason Krizan (Dallas Baptist) and
Matt Adams (Slippery Rock) reaching on back to back singles. Jake
Rosenbeck's (Buffalo) two run single then tied up the game at two.
Newport would regain the lead in the third inning on an RBI double
from Tamsin to give Arnold one more run to work with. It was the
first time this season that Ness has allowed more than two runs in a
start. He pitched five innings and allowed three runs (two earned)
in his first home start of the season.
Arnold would hold Pittsfield scoreless over the next four innings as
he left the game after six innings allowing just two runs. He would
lead the game in position to get the win as Newport would add a run
in the seventh inning of Dukes reliever Adam Knight (Georgia State)
to take a 4-2 lead.
Geoff Brown (University of Washington) would start the seventh for
the Gulls but would only retire one batter as he walked three of the
four hitters he faced. Manager Mike Coombs would then bring in
Robert Morey (Virginia) in hopes of getting out of the one out bases
loaded jam.
Chris Edmondson greeted Morey with an infield RBI single to the left
side hole to close the gap to one. Krizan would then empty the bases
with a 3 run double to left field, just inside the fair line, as he
would advance to third on the throw into the plate. The double gave
Pittsfield the 6-4 lead. The Dukes would then load up the bases
again but would lead them loaded entering the top of the eighth
inning.
The Gulls would attempt a comeback against Jake Sabol (Central
Michigan) who came in to start the eighth inning. Jared Prince
(Washington State) and David Cunningham (Auburn University) leadoff
the inning with singles, and Joey Manning (Vanderbilt University)
moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. With the infield drawn in,
Sabol induced Meehan to fly out to shallow center field and Prince
was unable to advance on the play.
Dukes closer Zach Anderson (Buffalo) then entered the game with
runners at second and third with two outs, attempting to earn his
third saves in as many games. He had previously saved the last two
games in the Dukes winning streak, going more than an inning in both
of those ballgames.
Anderson retired pinch hitter Ryan Wiegand (Gonzaga) as he flied out
to left to end the inning and the threat. Anderson would then stay
in the game for the ninth. Following a leadoff walk, Anderson
buckled down and retired the next three hitters to secure the
victory.
The Dukes are now tied with the Newport Gulls in the Southern
Division in first place with an 11-10 record. The win increases the
Pittsfield winning streak to three games as they continue their
scheduled five game homestand tomorrow. On Sunday, the Pittsfield
Dukes will host the Dominican Republic All Star team in an
exhibition game beginning at five o'clock. Mike Woytek (Wright
State) is the probable starter.
With the loss, Newport drops to 10-9 as their four game winning
streak is snapped. The Gulls will have Sunday off but are scheduled
to host a two team doubleheader on Monday at Cardines Field. Newport
will play Keene at two o'clock and then host Manchester beginning at
6:35. Neal Davis (Virginia) will start game one for the Gulls, and
Kevin Moran (Boston College) will be the game two starter.
