Photo courtesy of Abby Harris

Written by Jackson Walsh

Director of Broadcasting & Media

SANFORD, Maine – The Sanford Mainers won their first game of the year at Goodall Park 3-0 over the Upper Valley Nighthawks. The win moved the Mainers to 2-6, while the Nighthawks fell to 5-4. 

In a ballgame that was scoreless going into the bottom of the eighth, the Mainers were able to tally three runs with two outs. With runners on first and third and two down, Jack Toomey (Boston College) hit a ball on the ground towards the Nighthawks shortstop who attempted to get the force out at second to end the inning. The throw to second was errant and sailed into right field to allow the first run of the game to come home. The Mainers were able to tack on another run on a defensive miscue, and then Kellen Strohmeyer (Iowa) singled to right to drive home the third and final run of the game. 

All of the three runs surrendered by Upper Valley pitching in the eighth were unearned. “Sometimes you need a little luck and that’s exactly what we got in the eighth inning,” said Mainers manager Nic Lops. The hectic bottom of the eighth allowed the Mainers to take two of three from Upper Valley in the mini series over the last three days. 

Charlie Hale (Endicott), Drew Smith (UConn), Tyler Longoria (St. Johns), and Conner Griffin (Binghamton), combine to shut out the Nighthawks. The quintet of Mainers' arms struck out 11 and only allowed six hits. Longoria picked up the win in his summer debut, while Griffin struck out the side in the ninth to get his first save of the year. 

The Mainers will return to Goodall Park on Wednesday when they welcome in the Vermont Mountaineers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

About the Sanford Mainers:
Sanford Mainers Baseball is Southern Maine's Premier Baseball Experience located in Sanford, Maine and is one of 13 members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, as well as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001, playing its first season in 2002. The Sanford Mainers are committed to providing an outlet for collegiate baseball players from across the country to assist in skill development, while also acting as a community partner to the Southern Maine region in regard to youth activities, internships, volunteerism, and more. The Mainers are two-time league champions, taking home the title in 2004 and 2008. For more information on the Sanford Mainers, please visit our website at www.sanfordmainers.com or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/sanfordmainers or on Twitter and Instagram at @sanford_mainers.

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