SILKWORMS USE THREE-RUN SECOND TO SLIP PAST MAINERS 4-3

MANCHESTER, Conn. – Kyle Higgins and Brian Kelaher each drove in a run to key a three-run bottom of the second inning for the Manchester Silkworms, who went on to defeat the Sanford Mainers 4-3 in NECBL action on Tuesday night at Northwest Park. Anthony Russell added an RBI double in the third inning for Manchester (14-17). Max Most drove in a run in the defeat for the Mainers (12-20). Rob Hallberg pitched a perfect ninth inning for Manchester to earn his Southern Division-leading 10th save of the season.

The Mainers opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Brian Kemp (St. John’s/East Rockaway, N.Y.) led off with a single to left field and then moved to second base on a bunt single back to the pitcher by Noah Lankford (Central Michigan/Cincinnati, Ohio). Max Most (Marist/Port Washington, N.Y.) followed with a single through the left side to drive in Kemp with the first run of the game. Lankford would then score on a wild pitch to give Sanford a 2-0 lead.

The Silkworms took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Anthony Russell led off with a walk and moved to third on Stephen Crawford’s double down the left-field line. Russell would score when Kyle Higgins grounded out to second base to pick up an RBI. Crawford then came in to score and tie the game 2-2 on a passed ball charged to Sanford catcher Bubba Ruddy (Cypress CC/Orange, Calif.). With two outs and nobody on base, Eric Nieto worked a walk and stole second base. He came to the plate and scored to give Manchester a 3-2 lead.

The Silkworms extended the lead to 4-2 with another run in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Lavarnway reached with a one-out walk and advanced to second when Mainers starting pitcher Richie Armento (St. John’s/Bayside, N.Y.) committed a throwing error while attempting a pickoff. Lavarnway then came in to score on a double down the left-field line by Russell.

Sanford inched closer with an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning. Tim Keene (Massachusetts Lowell/Berlin, N.H.) led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. He moved to second base on Kemp’s infield single to third base and then moved to third on Most’s ground ball to second base. Keene would score on the play to cut the Manchester lead to 4-3 when Most ended up on second base as second baseman Matt Nandin overthrew first base for an error.

Armento started and took the loss (0-3) on the mound for the Mainers. In five innings of work, he gave up four runs on three hits, walked five and struck out four.

Ken Kerski started on the hill and earned the victory (2-1) for the Silkworms. Over 5.1 innings, he gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits, walked one, hit two batters and struck out five. Rob Hallberg pitched a perfect ninth inning for his Southern Division-leading 10th save of the season.

The Mainers return to action on Wednesday, July 18 when they visit the Lowell All-Americans. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Stoklosa Alumni Filed in Lowell, Mass. Matt Janik and Matt Haley 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.