Bowman Stifles Newport Hitters in 3-1 Win
Groth, D’Alfonso homer in season sweep of Gulls

Newport, RI – Jason Bowman became the first Sanford pitcher this season to throw a complete-game as the right-hander from West Chester University allowed just one run on eight hits in a 3-1 Mainers win over the Newport Gulls Friday night at Cardines Field. Anthony D’Alfonso and Kyle Groth would supply the power, both blasting their second home runs of the year.

With the score tied 1-1 in the top of the sixth, the Mainers would go on top. Groth picked on a Chad Arnold fastball and cracked a long home run to right to give the Mainers their first lead of the game. D’Alfonso would follow that up with a ringing double down the left field line. After a Matt Nandin sacrifice bunt, Mike Murray slapped a sharp groundball passed a diving David Cunningham at shortstop to score D’Alfonso and make it a 3-1 score. The Gulls would get a one-out single in the ninth off Bowman with Jack Murphy heading to the plate. Murphy drove a ball deep to left field, but Branson Joseph had just enough room in front of the wall to haul in the second out. Ryan Wiegand would pop out to Nandin to end the ballgame.

The Gulls would strike first in the second. After a double play turned by the Mainers’ middle infield, Kyle Conley launched a solo homer to left for a 1-0 Newport edge. That lead would not last long as D’Alfonso ripped a moon-shot to right in the fourth for a solo blast of his own to knot the game at one apiece.

Bowman improved to 3-2 on the year, walking none while punching out three. Arnold lasted five-plus innings and gave up three runs on seven hits in a losing effort. Tom Costigan pitched the last four scoreless innings for the Gulls.

***Box scores available at necbl.com


Notes…Sanford is now 9-1 against the Southern Division… Bowman retired 18 of the last 20 hitters he faced… Bowman now has an 8:1 strikeout to walk ratio this season…Attendance Friday night in Newport was 2,344… The Mainers conclude a four-game, three-day road trip Saturday with a doubleheader at Holyoke. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:30. Audio and video streaming are both available at sanfordmainers.com