Douglas Deals as Mainers Force Game 3
SANFORD, Me. – Rise to the occasion
Following a game one loss to Vermont, the Mainers responded on the back of an eight-inning shutout performance by Ryan Douglas (UNC-Asheville) to force a decisive game three, 5-0. The right-hander limited the Mountaineers to just two hits and struck out eight.
Early in the contest, both sides had chances, most notably, Vermont had the bases loaded with one gone in third, but Douglas worked around the traffic.
In the fifth, the Moose had their own bases juiced situation with no one out and broke it open.
A single from Alex Knapp (George Mason) drove in Devan Bade (Binghamton). Then, a pair of excellent plate appearances from Cal Hewett (Vanderbilt) and Aidan Kane (Delaware) scored MJ Lucas (UNC-Asheville) and Kevin Skagerlind (UMass), 3-0.
Hewett and Kane both battled back from early deficits before working back-to-back full-count walks with the bases loaded.
An inning later in the sixth, Bade and Lucas were on the bases after a pair of walks and a throwing error advanced them to second and third for Skagerlind. The left fielder ricocheted a high chopper off the pitcher, Jackson Harrigan (Bryant), and into right field, allowing both to score, 5-0.
It was all the offense the Mainers needed as Douglas continued to shove.
The North Carolina native made his way out for the ninth, but after one out, manager Nic Lops pulled him, and he received a curtain call from the Mainer fans. He finished with eight strikeouts, allowing just two hits and one walk.
Brian Craven (William & Mary) recorded the final two outs, including a strikeout of Matt Venuto (Fairfield) for the last out, sending Goodall Park into a frenzy.
It was the first playoff win at home since 2018 when the green and yellow defeated Keene in the Wild Card Round.
The two sides will travel back to Montpelier with a trip to the NECBL Championship on the line for game three at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Zachary Rodgers (UMass-Lowell) will get the nod on the mound.
Written by Matt Scalzo
Director of Broadcasting & Media
Photo Courtesy of Emmy Vitali, VitaliVisuals
About the Sanford Mainers:
Sanford Mainers Baseball is Southern Maine's Premier Baseball Experience located in Sanford, Maine and is one of 14 members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, as well as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001, playing its first season in 2002. The Sanford Mainers are committed to providing an outlet for collegiate baseball players from across the country to assist in skill development, while also acting as a community partner to the Southern Maine region in regard to youth activities, internships, volunteerism, and more. The Mainers are two-time league champions, taking home the title in 2004 and 2008. For more information on the Sanford Mainers, please visit our website at www.sanfordmainers.com or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/sanfordmainers or on Twitter and Instagram at @sanford_mainers.
