FREEMAN WALK-OFF SINGLE LIFTS SWAMP BATS OVER MAINERS

KEENE, N.H. – Mike Freeman’s RBI single to the gap in left-center field plated Kyle Henry with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Keene Swamp Bats a 3-2 victory over the Sanford Mainers in NECBL play at Alumni Field on Tuesday night. Ben Paulsen added a two-run double in the win for Keene (10-8). Cody Allen and Noah Lankford each drove in a run with a sacrifice fly for Sanford (7-13).

The Mainers opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third inning. Jeff Helps (Central Michigan/Wyoming, Ontario) led off with a single up the middle and then stole second base. After moving to third base on a groundout by Brian Kemp (St. John’s/East Rockaway, N.Y.), Helps came in to score on a sacrifice fly to right field by Cody Allen (Central Michigan/Coleman, Mich.).

The Swamp Bats would strike and take the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kyle Henry started things when he worked a walk with two outs. Mike Vass followed with a single to center field which put runners at first and third. Ben Paulsen followed with a double off the fence in left field to score both runners and give Keene a 2-1 lead.

Sanford tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Max Most (Marist/Port Washington, N.Y.) led off the inning with a double to the gap in right-center field. After a Tim Kalczynski (Michigan/Farmington Hills, Mich.) sacrifice bunt moved him to third, Most would come in to score on a sacrifice fly to center field by Noah Lankford (Central Michigan/Cincinnati, Ohio).

Keene would win the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Henry led off and worked a walk off of Mainer reliever Phil Negus (Wake Forest/Milford, Mass.). Vass followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Henry to second base with one out. After an intentional walk to Paulsen to put runners at first and second and a looking strikeout by Justin Robichaux, Mark Fleury worked a walk to load the bases. Mike Freeman followed with a game-winning, RBI single to the gap in left-center field to score Henry with the winning run.

Drew Murray (Georgia Southern/LaGrange, Ga.) started on the hill for the Mainers and did not receive a decision. In seven innings of work, he gave up two runs on six hits, walked one, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and struck out six. Negus took the loss (1-2) in relief for Sanford. In 1.2 innings, he gave up one run on one hit, walked three (one intentional), hit a batter and struck out two.

Miguel Valcarcel started and did not factor in the decision on the mound for the Swamp Bats. I six innings of work, he gave up one run on four hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out four. Ryan Cole got the victory (1-0) out of the bullpen for Keene. In three innings of work, he gave up one run on one hit and struck out one.

The Mainers return to action on Wednesday, July 4 when they visit the Concord Quarry Dogs. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Doane Diamond in Concord, N.H. Matt Janik and Matt Corsetti will have all the action at http://www.sanfordmainers.com.

A complete box score of tonight’s game will be available via http://www.necbl.com.

Founded in 2002, the Sanford Mainers are a non-profit organization and the premier collegiate baseball team in the state of Maine, playing their home games at historic Goodall Park. A proud member of the NECBL, the Mainers annually aid in progressing the careers of the future stars of professional baseball, in addition to bringing top-notch collegiate baseball to the Sanford area. For more information visit http://www.sanfordmainers.com or call the Mainers front office at (207) 324-0010.