‘Cats Walk it off Against Gators

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass – After a split with Elms College on Friday the AMCATS took on first year program, Pine Manor College Saturday evening at the New England Baseball Complex. The game looked grim for the 'Cats after the first inning, down 4-0, but at the end of nine, they had walked off with the win, 7-6.

It was another solid evening for Adam Twitchell, as he went two-for-four in the game with two RBI. He also walked twice and scored a run. Right fielder Jason Shell, went zero-for-six in the game but was responsible for the winning run, grounding in to a fielder's choice in the ninth which scored Tanner Jakola. Jakola had a good night for the 'Cats as well, going one-for-three with two walked, an RBI and of course a run scored. He also came in to pitch three innings in relief of starter Andrew Rodriques, finishing the game and earning the win while giving up no hits, no runs, walking two batters and striking out four Gator hitters. Justin Robbins and Jake Crevier posted the two extra base hits, both doubles, that the AMCATS were able to produce. Crevier also scored two of the Anna Maria runs in the game in his two-for-four performance at the dish. Jack Marzec joined Crevier in the multi-run scoring column with two runs scored in a one-for-four day at the plate.

Pine Manor had multi-hit performances from Randal Adams and Isiah Mack, each going two-for-five in the game. Adams had one of the two only extra base hit, a double, in the game for the Gators and scored twice. Eduary Baez went one-for-two at the plate, driving in three runs, scoring one of his own and drawing a walk. Baez's only hit was a home run, which was his first career home run, and the program's first home run. The Gators used four pitchers in the game, started Alec Hanney went the furthest pitching 5.1 innings, allowed eight hits, four runs, all earned, walked four AMCATS and struck out only two. Mack, who started the game at third base, came in to pitch in the ninth in relief of Adams, and allowed the winning run to score, sticking him with the loss.

The Gators wasted no time getting on the board, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning on an Adams double which scored Gio Acevedo, which was followed by a Mack single to score Adams, and then Baez put another quarter in the merry-go-round, homering over the left field fence, scoring Mack and himself.

PMC carried their 4-0 advantage through the first inning and were unable to add to their tally in the second. In the bottom of the second inning, Jakola hit a single right back up the middle allowing Marzec to cross the plate, making the score 4-1 after two full.

Pine Manor weren't done, getting to Rodriques in the top of the third, answering the AMCATS run from the second with two more runs of their own. Baez, who hit the homer in the first, walked with the bases loaded to plate a run. Dante Cucuzza then singled down the right field line, scoring only one run as Shell made a quick play on the ball to limit the damage for the AMCATS. That sixth run would prove to be the Gators final one as the AMC pitching settled down.

Now down 6-1, the AMCATS had some work to do. In the fourth, the AMCATS cut the to four, scoring a run on a bases loaded walk to Twitchell, scoring Crevier from third.

In the sixth, Anna Maria scored two more to get within two as Nick Genatossio scored on a wild pitch and Shell hit a slow dribbler up the first base line that the catcher had to field to throw Shell out, leaving the plate unattended and the speed of Twitchell beat the catcher back to the plate to make it 6-4 after six.

Genatossio came to the plate in the seventh with Marzec on third. Nick hit a grounder to the first baseman which Marzec was seemingly off on contact on and scored, making the score 6-5.

With the finish line in sight for the Gators, who were looking for their third win of the season, the AMCATS came to bat in the ninth with hopes of erasing their loss late Friday night to the Blazers. The inning started off well with Crevier walking, putting the tying run on first with no outs. The next batter, Marzec, struck out, followed by a Jakola walk. The tying run was now in scoring position and the winning run standing 180 feet away on first base. The Gators made a pitching change, going with Mack on the bump. He immediately hit the first batter he faced, Genatossio, to load the bases with just one out. With the bases loaded, and for the second time in the game, Twitchell drew a walk, moving each runner up a base and tying the game at six apiece. With the threat of extra innings looming, Shell took matters in to his own hands, hitting a ground ball to the right of the second baseman. Though he had the opportunity to throw to second and possibly get a double play sending the game to the 10^th inning, he decided to throw the ball home to cut down the runner. Jakola, who was coming home from third representing the winning run, wasn't going to allow that to happen, and scored, sliding head first past the catcher who had to go up the first base line to field the throw. The AMCATS had walked off against Pine Manor, giving them their sixth win of the season.

The 'Cats will be back on the field at NEBC on Sunday afternoon for a double header against Maine-Presque Isle beginning at 2pm.