Mainers Blank Swamp Bats for Third Straight Win

By Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

SANFORD, M.E. - The Mainers got their first shutout win of the season Friday night, winning 4-0 over the Keene Swamp Bats at Goodall Park.

Keene gifted Sanford a run in the first inning. Left fielder Nick Zampieron walked to lead off the game, stole a base, advanced to third on a groundout, and then crossed home via a wild pitch.

Andrew Middleton started the game on the mound for the Moose. The incoming senior had recently joined the team and made his season debut after spending a year at West Virginia. The Canton, Massachusetts native was lights out, going four innings and not allowing a hit. 

In the third inning, the Swamp Bats easily retired the first two hitters. Then, Jake Harring hit a weak grounder down the first base line that Keene pitcher Hunter Colagrande bobbled, allowing Harring to reach. Albert De La Rosa followed that up with a walk. Harring and De La Rosa stole second and third, respectively, setting the scene for Troy Carpenter, who hit a two-RBI double to right-center, making it 3-0 Mainers.

Binghamton's Jake Dally took over for Middleton in the fifth inning. Dolly, who was also making his season debut, flashed promise, tossing three innings of one-hit baseball.

"It's just very high level stuff from both of those guys," said Sanford manager Nic Lops. "You've got Middleton from the left side pumping it up there…and then Dally throwing that heater sinker, that's pretty nasty stuff."

In the seventh, Zampieron scored his second run when De La Rosa roped a single to left field to extend the Mainer lead to 4-0.

Jasper Nadel came on for top of the ninth, giving up one hit to secure the win. Keene totaled two hits on the evening, and fell to Sanford after winning at Goodall Park on Monday.

The Mainers have won three straight and face a South division opponent for the first time tomorrow when they host the Newport Gulls. First pitch is set for 6:30.