Photo Courtesy of Abby Harris

Written by Jackson Walsh

Director of Broadcasting & Media

KEENE, New Hampshire– The Sanford Mainers defeated the Keene SwampBats 9-4 in ten innings at Alumni Field, where thousands were on hand for an Independence Eve celebration. The Mainers improved to 9-13, while first-place Keene fell to 17-7. The win moves the Mainers to a perfect 3-0 in extra-innings games. 

The story of the game was Brendan Sencaj (Bentley), and the tenth inning. Sencaj homered three times in the game, and played third base for the first time since high school. Sencaj had solo homers in the fifth, seventh, and added a two-run blast in the tenth. 

Sencaj’s home run in the tenth was the first of three separate two-runs long balls. Following him Dom Tozzi (Coastal Carolina) had a two-run shot to right center, and Charlie Jones (Georgia) left the yard for the first time this summer with a two-run blast to left-center. “This was a statement game for us, “ said Mainers manager Nic Lops. 

The Mainers trailed 3-1 after two innings but the Mainers bullpen was lights out for nine innings, after the starter was pulled after the first inning. Nic Melton (UNC Asheville), and Ben Griffith (Binghamton) each tossed three innings of relief and allowed zero earned runs. The game reached a weather delay in ninth and on came Sam Mitchell (Alabama) with one out when the game resumed. Mitchell retired two batters in the ninth to get to extras, and was credited with the win on the mound after pitching the tenth with plenty of insurance. 

The Mainers are back at home for Independence Day as they welcome the Ocean State Waves to Goodall Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30. 

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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