27th Out Still the Hardest Out to Get, As Dent Does It Again
Sunday night’s 7-4 extra inning home loss to the Navigators had many similarities to Thursday’s loss at North Shore, including the late-game heroics of Cody Dent (University of Florida).
This time it was Dent’s three-run home run in the top of the tenth inning that put the game out of reach for the Muskrats, despite fighting back to load the bases in the bottom of the inning.
And even before that, North Shore was down to their final out in the top of the ninth, down by one, when Anthony Melchionda (Boston College) defied the laws of momentum, launching a solo shot to extend the game.
The Muskrats began mounting a comeback in the seventh inning, down 3-1. With one out, pinch-hitter Ryan Lewis (Columbus St) drew a walk from North Shore’s Mark Williams (Marietta College). Lewis advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then was driven in on a Niko Fraser (Elon) single, bringing the Muskrats within one.
Laconia would take the lead in the eighth with some timely power hitting. Derek Trent (East Tennessee St) narrowly missed a lead off homer, flying out to deep right-center. But Pat Epps (Central Connecticut St) followed with his second double of the game, off the top of the fence in dead center field, also just missing a homer. Adam Kirsh (North Central Texas College) then ripped a barely-fair ball down the third-base line, scoring Epps and tying the game. One out later, it was Tom Rombilus (New Haven) doubling to right to drive in Kirsh and give Laconia its first lead.
The comeback looked complete. Suddenly, the Muskrats were in a position to avenge Thursday’s slip, and had a chance to gain a game on the Division-leading Navigators.
Rob Harding (Spartanburg Methodist College) came on to close out the ninth, and quickly got two outs. But, per usual as of late, the 27th out proved again to be the toughest out for Laconia to get. Melchionda tied things back up with an opposite field long ball.
It was Muskrats closer Nick Krisman who had two outs in the ninth Thursday against North Shore, and Dent who knocked that game-winner into left field. The Navigators have gotten the most out of their final out, and six of the team’s last eight games have all been decided in the ninth inning or extras.
To this point, the late innings had played out just the opposite of Thursday night’s game, where it was Laconia that tied things up in the top of the ninth. Sunday’s ninth inning went almost the same way for the Muskrats, starting with an Evan Marzilli (South Carolina) walk and a Fraser sacrifice bunt. NECBL RBI leader Casey Kalenkosky (Cisco College) was then intentionally passed to first, so it was again Trent with Marzilli in scoring position and Navigators closer Hunter Rivers (Jacksonville St) on the mound.
This same series of events led to Trent’s game-tying RBI double Thursday, and a blown save for Rivers. Sunday night in that spot, Trent walked to load the bases. So it was Epps’ turn to continue a strong game and be clutch; but he struck out. Then it was eighth inning hero Kirsh’s big chance; but he flew out to center to end the inning.
The Muskrats would leave the bases loaded in the final two innings, and Dent would strike for the game winner in between. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Kalenkosky in the bottom of the tenth, but Rivers struck him out to end the game. It marked back-to-back wins in relief for Rivers against Laconia.
The loss went to Harding, who surrendered Dent’s blast along with Malchionda’s game-changer.
Dan Patrick (Pepperdine) started for North Shore, throwing five innings of one-run ball, with three strike outs, five hits and two walks. Logan Munson (South Carolina) made the start for the Muskrats, matching Patrick’s five innings, with three runs, two strike outs, seven hits and one walk.
Laconia now falls four games behind first place North Shore, still in line for a playoff spot in fourth place. Due to rain makeups, the Muskrats will play every night leading up to the start of the post-season on August 2nd, including a stretch of five games on the road.
Monday night, the Muskrats host the Lowell All-Americans at 7 p.m. All fans in attendance at Robbie Mills Field will be admitted free for Fan Appreciation Night. Those not in the area can listen to the game on the NECBL Broadcast Network.