SANFORD — Sanford’s second comeback attempt of the night fell just short, as the Mainers fell by an 8-7 score to the struggling Ocean State Waves (19-23) in a close-knit affair from Goodall Park.
The Mainers trailed 4-1 and 8-5 during the game, as Sanford came back once to take a 5-4 lead and fell just short in the later innings.
Ocean State grabbed two runs in the fifth inning, and two more in the sixth to give the visitors an early 4-1 lead. In the seventh, Chris Gaetano (Monmouth), Jordan Powell (Rhode Island) and Sam Stauble (Southern Maine) all reached base in succession to load up the bases on a walk, single and a walk. Sanford took their first bite in the Waves lead two batters later with Johnny Slater (Michigan), who belted a two-run single to left field to bring Sanford within one.
Zach Jancarski (Maryland) stood up next, picking up a single of his own to tie the game at four. Only a batter later, Shaine Hughes (Monmouth) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Slater on a close play at the plate to make it 5-4 Moose.
Ocean State retook the lead in the eighth when Austin Upshaw (Kennesaw State) blasted a grand slam to right off of Mainers reliever Tristan Chari (Vanderbilt), as the Mainers’ catcher pitched in on the hill.
Sanford loaded the bases in the eighth, but only got a single run on another RBI-single from Slater. Dan Wilson (North Carolina Asheville) knocked a pinch-hit home run to left in the ninth, and the Mainers got the tying run to third base with two men out in the ninth, but he would be stranded there.
Both starters were solid for their clubs early on, as Ocean State’s Tyler Barrs (Rhode Island) went five innings on three hits, a run, three walks and five strike outs. It was Barrs’ first start of the year, including NCAA play this spring. The Mainers Jonah Normandeau (UMaine Orono) went five innings himself, allowing two runs on eight hits, two walks and three strike outs.
The Mainers will face North Adams today at Goodall Park for the regular season finale. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Mainers, who clinched the NECBL North Division title on Saturday, begin their run for a league championship on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. when they host the fourth place team in the division at Goodall Park.
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