Blues fall short in first game of double header

The Blues fell 9-2 in game one of a doubleheader against the Sanford Mainers. The Blues' season record is 10-10. 

The Mainers had runs coming in right off the bat at the top of the first inning. Albert De La Rosa scored after Troy Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly to center field. However, at the top of the second, the Blues' defense shut down the Mainers with a strikeout by John Hughes (University of Michigan) and later outs at second and third. 

The Mainers struck again at the top of the third, scoring two more runs to make it a 3-0 game. They added two more runs in the fourth, making it a 5-0 game. At the top of the sixth, Blues Brycen Diaz (Elms College) struck out back-to-back batters, followed by a pop-up to Nick Flores (VCU). 

Top of the sixth, the Mainers scored their final four runs of the night. The Blues responded to the Mainers' four runs in the inning with their own runs. 

Nick Flores walked, advancing Antonio Ducatelli (Fairfield) to second, Trent Rice (Michigan State) to third, and Jack Balcer (Quinnipiac) to score. A run from Rice followed after Nick Francuzenko (Towson). 

Hughes on the mound allowed only five hits and five runs. Diaz allowed only three hits and four runs. Hughes and Diaz each recorded four strikeouts against the Mainers. 

Brendan Sencaj and Sam Miller were the leading scorers for the Mainers, each with two runs. Five Mainers scored single runs, helping the team earn the win. 

The Blues will play the Martha's Vineyard Sharks on July 1 at 7:05 at Vineyard Baseball Park. The Blues will return to Muzzy Field on July 3 at 6:30 to face the Sharks again. 

Written by Gabby Algiere