Late Game Rally Falls Short For SteepleCatsBy John Wood, North Adams SteepleCats
12:22AM / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 | |
 Jeffery Brown beats out a throw to first as the SteepleCats fell to the Winnipesaukee Muskrats 16-8 |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Tuesday night’s game was a roller coaster ride for those in attendance at Joe Wolfe Field.
After North Adams grabbed a 5-0 lead early in the contest, an 11-run 5th inning for Winnipesaukee allowed the visiting Muskrats to run away with a victory, ultimately topping the SteepleCats 16-10.
Harvard’s Grant Stone made the start for North Adams, shutting down the Winnipesaukee offense in the first four innings with not allowing a hit. Yet the Muskrats broke the game open in the 5th, taking a 6-5 lead and bringing SteepleCats pitcher Jeff Hayner into the game. Hayner did not slow down the Muskrats however, as they tacked up four more runs off of three hits, causing for his quick exit of the ballgame in the same inning.
Tommy Lane made his second appearance as a SteepleCat following Hayner. The Boston College senior threw 3.1 innings in which he surrendered three runs off of five hits, allowing the Muskrat’s lead to increase to 14-8. After winning NECBL player of the week Monday for his bat, Jackson Coutts made the move from first base to the mound in the 9th, giving up two runs off of three hits while striking out two.
Four pitchers graced the mound for Winnipesaukee Tuesday Night. Starter Zac Uecker lasted four innings, giving up five runs off of six hits and allowing the SteepleCats to take an early lead. Yu-Cheng Chang’s next three innings for the Muskrats proved troubling for the SteepleCats, as they were held to just one hit. The last two innings were split between Garrett Witcher and T.J. Stuart, who combined allowed the SteepleCats to get five more runs on the board off of three hits.
The highlight of the game for the SteepleCats came early in the 2nd inning, as Chad McDaniel hit a 3-run blast to left field for his second home run of the year. The Mizzou sophomore bats .233 on the season with seven hits and ten RBIs.
The SteepleCats are on road for the next three games as they hope to bounce against the Sanford Mainers on Wednesday, the Plymouth Pilgrims on Friday, and the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Saturday. They then return to Joe Wolfe Field on Sunday to take on the Keene Swamp Bats at 4:30. Tickets for that game or any SteepleCats home games can be purchased online at www.steeplecats.org or at the Ticket Booth one hour prior to the game’s start.
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