Marc Schwartz

New Bedford, Mass. – The New Bedford Bay Sox ended the Swamp Bats’ ten game winning streak Sunday, defeating Keene 10-5. Despite a run in the top of the first, the Swamp Bats trailed for the majority of the game.

Joe Pistorese (Washington St.) toed the rubber for the Swamp Bats for his fifth start of the year. He went up against Colton Cross (Kennesaw St.) for New Bedford, making his fifth start as well.

The Swamp Bats got the scoring started in the top of the first with an unearned run against Cross. Nelson Ward (Georgia) led off the inning with a four pitch walk. He quickly stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error from New Bedford catcher Andy Lalli (Southern NH). Ward then scored on a groundout from Mike Papi (Virginia).

New Bedford answered immediately with four runs in the bottom of the first. After Evan King (Millersville) struck out to start the inning, consecutive singles from Zach Stone (Millersville) and Alex Black (Columbia), along with a walk to Alex Baldock (Buffalo), the bases were loaded for Zack Graczyk (SUNY Cortland). Graczyk, after working the count 2-2, launched a grand slam over the fence in left field, giving New Bedford a 4-1 lead. The home run is Graczyk’s third of the year.

The Bay Sox added two more runs the next inning on a two-run double from Stone. With one down and runners on first and second, Stone lifted a doubled that hit off the base of the center field wall, which gave the Bay Sox a 6-1 lead.

Pistorese rebounded nicely with two scoreless innings to finish off his day. His final line read four innings pitched, six runs (five earned) on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

The Swamp Bats got back on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning against New Bedford on a two-out rally. Dylan Moore (Cypress Community College) started the rally with the first hit of the game for Keene. Ward followed suit with a single of his own which put runners on first and second for Papi. He lined one into centerfield, scoring Moore from second and advancing Ward to third.

The next batter, JP Sportman (Central Connecticut St.), grounded a double down the left field line, scoring Ward from third base. The RBI double gives Sportman an NECBL leading 31 runs batted in on the season. With runners on second and third though, Frankie Schwindel (St. John’s) struck out to end the inning.

Thanks to two strong innings of hitless relief from Chad Rafferty (St. Joseph’s College of Maine), the Swamp Bats remained within three runs of New Bedford entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Unfortunately for the Swamp Bats though, Rafferty lost his touch, allowing four consecutive Bay Sox batters to reach base, which chased him from the game.

King led off the inning with a walk, which was followed by three consecutive singles from Stone, Black, and Baldock. That was it for Rafferty, who finished the game with 2+ innings of work, giving up four runs on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Tyler Gauthier (Southern NH) relieved Rafferty with no outs and runners on second and third, allowing both inherited runners to score. Gauthier did not give up a run charged to him however, and the scoring topped off at 10-4.

Keene did add another run in the top of the eighth when Schwindel scored on a wild pitch to make the score 10-5. Earlier in the inning, Schwindel lined a single to left field to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. Schwindel’s run finished the scoring in the game at 10-5.

New Bedford swept the season series against the Swamp Bats, dropping Keene’s overall record to 19-5, still tops in the NECBL. With the win, the Bay Sox improve to 16-10, good for second in the Eastern Division of the NECBL.

The Swamp Bats are back in action Monday Night against the Vermont Mountaineers. It is the first of two consecutive games up in Montpelier, VT. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm.