Wakefield, RI- The North Adams SteepleCats headed to Old Mountain field in the great state of Rhode Island to take on the Ocean State Waves, still searching for their very first victory. Early on, it looked as if it might happen. 

Starting pitcher, Cooper Omans looked brilliant early on. The southpaw fanned five batters through three innings while not allowing a run.

The Waves defense looked shaky in the early going as two errors in the second allowed the Cats to put a three spot on the board. Ocean State retaliated quickly, scoring a pair in the fourth and fifth and then tackling another in the sixth.

Now down 5-3, the SteepleCats needed more offense to keep pace with the Waves. Cedric Rose would be the one to answer the call for help.

In the top of the seventh, after Scott Jones was hit by a pitch and Ryan Galanie popped out, it was time for Rose to make his mark. The first baseman crushed the first pitch he saw from Jack Erbeck, and it disappeared over the left field wall tying the game.

Ocean State answered quickly in the bottom of the frame as Pete Ciufredda put the team on his back with a solo blast to deep center field. Ocean State led one again 6-5. 

The SteepleCats put three in the eighth thanks partly to an error by Alex Ramirez at second base and a two-run single by Cedric Rose, who came up big once again. Despite leading 8-6 in the bottom of the eighth, North Adams couldn't hold down the fort.

A few untimely walks and two wild pitches later, the game was all knotted up at eight heading into the final frame.

The SteepleCats went quietly in their half of the ninth. Will Hearn retired the first hitter he faced in the bottom of the ninth easily, but after an error and a walk, he was removed in favor of Nate Beal.

Beal intentionally walked the first hitter he faced, and then the game ended in the most anti-climactic way a baseball game could ever end: a walk-off balk. 

The Cats were stunned. That, quite frankly, has to be the worst possible ending to a back-and-forth game like this. It was a spectacular effort by both teams, but unfortunately, the game did not get the ending it deserved. 

The SteepleCats will play again tonight as they face off against the Martha's Vineyard Sharks at 6:30. Cole Zaffiro will be the starting pitcher.

You can stream tonight's game through this link: https://necblnetwork.com/?B=395009.