Blue Sox slip up in the ninth, fall to Vermont 1-0
By Nate Bertrand
HOLYOKE, MA – The Valley Blue Sox saw their five-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Vermont Mountaineers, 1-0.
Bryan Goossens (Siena) gave the Blue Sox his fourth serviceable start in as many games but the run support was not there for him tonight. Goossens pitched seven innings, giving up only one run while striking out three.
The Blue Sox only collected three hits on the evening, and did not have many scoring chances. When Valley did get on base, the double play plagued them as they hit into three in the game.
"It was tough to see a handful of our rally's get killed by double plays, but it's just how the game goes sometimes," said Blue Sox manager John Raiola.
It appeared as though the Blue Sox bats would remain hot as Garrett McCain (Oklahoma State) and Manny DeJesus (Ohio) led off the game with a pair of singles. Vermont starter Taylor Durand (Western Carolina) settled down after the first two batters as he pitched four scoreless innings for the Mountaineers and recorded the win.
"Durand pitched well for them early on and we weren't able to get anything going against him," said Raiola.
Vermont picked up the only run it needed in the fifth inning on Laren Eustace's (Indiana) RBI double to left field. Mason Ward (Kennesaw State) came in relief and gave the Blue Sox a chance to win in the later innings. Ward struck out four batters in two perfect innings of relief, striking out the side in the eighth.
Vermont left fielder Jack Parenty (Stony Brook) committed what looked to be a costly error to start off the ninth inning as Manny DeJesus capitalized on the dropped line drive and hustled to second base to put him in scoring position. The next batter, Jake Lumley (Canisius), hit a single to centerfield, but as DeJesus was rounding third base he slipped and fell, eventually getting tagged out in a rundown. Sam Delaplane (Eastern Michigan) retired the next two batters and recorded the save for Vermont.
The Blue Sox play host to the North Adams Steeplecats tomorrow night as central mass native Connor Colombo (Bates) makes his first start for Valley. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m.
