The Sanford Mainers used a six run fifth inning on Friday night, and held on to defeat the Bristol Blues 9-7 in Game 3 of a New England Collegiate Baseball League semifinal playoff series at Goodall Park. Sanford wins the series 2-1 and advances to the best of three NECBL Championship that begins on Sunday.
After an early back and forth, Sanford came up with that huge bottom of the fifth inning that made the difference in the game. A two-run double by Nater Wachter (UConn) and a two-run single by Will Cowan (St. John’s) were the key hits. Bristol fought right back in the top of the sixth with four runs. An error, a hit by pitch with the bases loaded, and a two-run single by Cal Chance (UMass-Lowell) for the Blues got them right back in the contest. The Mainers pitching took over from there after they added an insurance run on a passed ball in the home part of the sixth inning. Samuel Young (University of Richmond) would allow three baserunners the rest of the way over three innings on an error and two walks, but would keep Bristol off the scoreboard to secure the save and the win for the Mainers.
Chance and Christoper DiPrima (Yale) both had two RBI in the loss for Bristol, who ends their season with a record of 25-23. Antonio Morales (Maryland) had three hits for Sanford, while Jack Tate (St. John’s) added two. Albert De La Rosa (University of Maine), Wachter, and Cowan each contributed two RBI. Matt Mahoney (Northeastern) picked up the pitching win in relief, with Young nailing down his second save of the postseason. The Mainers (30-16) will play either the Mystic Schooners or Danbury Westerners in the league championship series that begins with Game 1 in Sanford at 6:35 p.m. on Sunday at Goodall Park. Mystic and Danbury were postponed by rain on Friday, and play their decisive Game 3 on Saturday to decide who comes to Maine. Games 1, 2, and a possible Game 3 of the championship will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription service).
Image of Sanford pitcher Samuel Young after the final out of Game 3 of a semifinal playoff win on Friday, August 7th from Brady Corson (Sanford Mainers staff photographer)
