Keene Outlasts Vermont in 14 Inning Marathon, 9-7
MONTPELIER, VT- It took 14 innings before Keene finally got a two run lead against Vermont Sunday night in Montpelier, taking the third game of the series 9-7.
The game started off quickly as a pitcher’s duel between Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC/ Michigan State) and Jake McLinskey (Roswell, GA/ Kennesaw State).
Keene pushed across one against Diaz in the top of the fourth, but Vermont responded with five in the bottom half of the inning, giving Vermont the 5-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Jar Parker (Dallas, TX/ Arkansas Pine Bluff) reached on an error, driving in one run. Noah Hsue (Mercer Island, WA/ Washington) then singled to right field. The ball got under the glove of the left fielder, clearing the bases, giving Vermont the 5-1 lead.
Keene would add two runs in both the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, giving them a one run lead. Vermont would come back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth when Austin Masel (Stoneham, MA/ Holy Cross) singled home Bryce Kelley (Rockford, MI/ Michigan State).
The offenses would remain stagnant until the 14th, when they finally pushed two more runs across, giving them the 9-7 lead. After Jacob Koos (Wellington, FL/ Stetson) walked, Charlie Concannon (West Chester, PA/ St. Joseph’s) laced a double into right center. He later came around to score on a single from Brandon Smith (Georgetown, IN/ Dayton), giving the Swamp Bats the two run lead.
The win for Keene went to Griff McGarry (Portola Valley, CA/ Virginia), who went four innings in relief, only allowing one hit and one walk while striking out six. The loss for Vermont went to Levi Abrahamson (Mountain Home, ID/ Missouri Western). He threw four and a third innings out of the pen, giving up two runs on only one hit, while walking one.
The Mountaineers fall to 6-14 on the season, now 8.5 games back of first place Valley (15-4). The return to action after an off day Monday, and head to Keene Tuesday to take on the Swamp Bats once again. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30, and can be heard on CBS Sports 1240 or on the NECBL Broadcast Network.
