SwampBats outlast Gulls in pitcher’s duel decided in the eighth
KEENE, NH - On the first Reading With Ribby night of 2025, the Keene SwampBats played a defensive battle against the two-time defending champion Newport Gulls, and came away victorious with a final score of 1-0.
The Bats rode a strong debut outing from LHP Alex Walsh (Jacksonville), who twirled four scoreless innings while fanning five. RHP Joey Abbazia (Florida Atlantic) continued the dominance on the mound, with two innings of one hit ball while striking out three of his own.
However, up to the middle of the sixth, the SwampBats had only managed one base hit, a Chandler Tuupo (Charleston Southern) single that came in the bottom of the second inning. As Abbazia walked off the mound after the top half of the frame, the skies opened up.
Heavy rain forced the game into a delay that would end up lasting an hour and ten minutes, and would cool off any offensive sparks that might have been heating up. Keene’s own Ben Dean (Dayton) was put into the game in the seventh and sent the Gulls down in order, a fate that would befall the SwampBats hitters in the home half of the frame.
While the defenses duked it out, Keene DH Jack Herring (East Carolina) was quietly building the top SwampBats hitting performance of the day, and that came to a head in the bottom of the eighth inning. Herring came to the plate with LF Michael O’Brien (Mississippi State) standing on second with two away. He placed a ball through the gap on the right side, and O’Brien had just enough time to score from second, giving Keene a one run lead.
Ben Dean remained in the game to secure the win in the top half of the ninth, totaling three innings pitched, allowing one hit and sending five Gulls down on strikes. The SwampBats picked up their fourth consecutive win, placing them atop the division and league standings with the best winning percentage in the New England League.
Keene is set to host the North Adams SteepleCats Wednesday night, for the second night of Reading With Ribby in 2025.
First pitch between the SteepleCats and SwampBats is set for 6:35 PM.
