Four Run Fifth Powers SwampBats Win
The SwampBats held the Danbury Westerners scoreless through seven innings en route to a 7-3 win in front of over two thousand fans on Ted’s Shoe and Sport Night at Alumni Field.
Danbury threatened first in the top of the second when they loaded the bases on two hits and a walk with one out. SwampBats Starter Charlie Oschell (Virginia) struck out the next batter and battled back from a 3-0 count in a high-pressure situation to induce an inning-ending flyout. Penn State’s Bryce Molinaro made a beautiful backhand play up the third base line to start a double-play ending the top of the third. The SwampBats took the lead in the bottom half after Andrew Wiggins (Indiana) parked a double in the left field corner, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Jake Koonin’s (Princeton) infield single. Oschell exited with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth. Stephen Bangs (Franklin Pierce) picked up his starter by getting a flyout to end the threat. Oschell struck out four in three and two-thirds scoreless innings.
Cincinnati’s Christian Mitchelle began the bottom of the fifth with a single through the left side of the infield. With one out, Austin Hawke (Wake Forest) laid down an excellent bunt on the dirt down the third base line. The Danbury catcher scooped it up, wheeled around, and comically threw the ball into the right field bleachers, allowing Mitchelle to score. The next batter, Joe Jaconski (Penn State) clobbered a two-run home run over the trees in center field. With the SwampBats’ offense awakened, Josh Kross (Cincinnati) and Aaron Graeber (Delaware) smacked back-to-back doubles to make it 5-0 Keene. One inning later, Mitchelle launched another two-run home run to left to give the SwampBats a stranglehold on the game.
Meanwhile, Bangs befuddled the Westerners with his sinker, allowing only one hit and one walk through three and one-third innings, leaving the game with a 7-0 score. Dane Burns (Mississippi State), throwing 95 miles an hour, struck out four over the final two innings, despite losing the shutout.
Keene (11-5) has their first three-game winning streak of the season and visits North Adams on Thursday before returning home Friday evening for Camper Night with Raynor Dental and the Red Sox Foundation.
