The SwampBats left 20 runners on base, but scored three times late in a 5-2 win at the Danbury Westerners on Saturday. 

In the bottom of the first, the Westerners hit a single to right with a runner on first, and as the throw went to third, shortstop Austin Hawke (Wake Forest) cut it off and threw behind the runner at first to get a huge out and help Nick Timpanelli (Charleston Southern) through the frame. The SwampBats loaded the bases with one out in the second on singles from Brett House (Mississippi State) and Andrew Wiggins (Indiana), and a walk from Hawke. The next two hitters were retired to keep the game scoreless. Danbury had a runner at third and no one out in the bottom half, but Timpanelli got a strikeout, a foulout, and a flyout to get out of it. In the next inning, Danbury had a one out infield single, a walk, and then an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.

Alex Calarco (Maryland) led off the fourth with a line drive single to left, advanced on a walk by Wiggins, and moved to third on an errant snap throw to first. Hawke took advantage and hit a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Calarco to tie the game. Timpanelli pitched four innings, allowing one run while striking out three. The SwampBats loaded the bases in the fifth on an error, a walk, and a Calarco infield single, allowing Brett House (Mississippi State) to tie the game with another sacrifice fly. In the sixth, Danbury played old-fashioned small ball to tie the game. An infield single, a passed ball, a groundout, and a sacrifice fly allowed them to circle the bases for a 2-2 score. Danbury incredibly walked the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh innings, but the SwampBats did not take advantage.

In the top of the eighth, Nick Romano (Florida Atlantic) drew a one-out walk. With two outs, Calarco drew another walk, and gave House a golden opportunity to break the deadlock. The Bulldog sophomore delivered with a two-run triple down the right field line, giving the SwampBats a 4-2 lead. The bases were left loaded again as Keene could not expand their lead. Connecticut’s Sean Finn pitched two innings of scoreless relief, striking out four and earning the win. Kent State’s Jaden Varner got the final two outs in the eighth, striking out the last batter with the tying runs on base. Calarco made it 5-2 with an RBI infield single in the top of the ninth. After an error to begin the bottom of the ninth, concern set in for the SwampBats. Opening Day starter Jake Bean (Kent State) came in for the save. He induced a massive 4-6-3 double play and then a game ending flyout to seal the win.                                                                                                                       

Keene (19-10) next visits Vermont on Monday and will be home next Wednesday for First Responder & Military Appreciation night sponsored by Service Credit Union and Monadnock Ford.