The Winnipesaukee Muskrats hit the road for the first time Friday night, looking to spoil the Sanford Mainers’ Opening Night festivities. They did just that, as a five-run seventh inning powered the Muskrats to a SCORE win for their second consecutive victory to start the 2021 season.

Winnipesaukee and Sanford traded blows early in the contest, with both teams scoring in the first. A pair of second inning Mainers errors gifted the Muskrats a 3-1 lead, but Sanford responded in the bottom of the third with three runs, punctuated by a two-RBI single from left fielder Calvin Hewett. 

Winnipesaukee contributed one more run in the fourth inning, as both teams’ pitchers began to take over. Starter Josh Lajoie and reliever Justin Murray combined to protect the 4-4 tie, until the Muskrats took over in the seventh. Two runners scored on wild pitches from Mainers hurler Anthony Redfern and gave the Muskrats a 6-4 lead. Will Vergantino added a three-run home run to give Winnipesaukee an insurmountable advantage.

Laconia native Ryan Dee came in the eighth inning, and conceded two runs, but Kevin McNiff came on for the ninth and Winnepsaukee held on as the Muskrats moved to 2-0 on the season. They return to action on Saturday to take on the Upper Valley Nighthawks at 6:00 in Hartford, Vermont.