Orleans Firebirds

After Tossing Back-to-Back Shutouts, Tables Turn on Cardinals

June 30, 2008

Orleans, Mass. – It wasn’t pretty, but the Cardinals found a way to scratch out an extra inning victory. A bunt laid down by 3B Mike Murphy (Maryland) in the bottom of the tenth scored OF Alex Hassan (Duke) to give the Cardinals the 5-4 victory over Cotuit.

The two squads combined to make 10 errors on the evening and two of them ultimately did Cotuit in. Hassan led off the tenth by putting a ball in play on the left side that was scooped up by 2B/SS Dallas Poulk (NC State). Poulk threw it away and the winning run moved into scoring position for the Cards. Orleans 2B Kyle Spraker (Loyola Marymount) laid down a bunt to move Hassan over that was botched by RHP Danny Meszaros (College of Charleston). With two on, nobody out and the winning run at third, Murphy squared around on a safety squeeze and put the bunt down to bring in Hassan and win the game.

Murphy was also the reason the game went into extra innings in the first place. With the Cardinals trailing by a run in the eighth, Murphy lined a two out pitch up the middle that fell just in front of an outstretched Poulk. The Cotuit infielder gathered himself to throw the ball over to first but it was not in time to retire Murphy as Spraker came around to tie it up.

Orleans held a 2-1 lead for most of the contest after picking up two runs in the first. RHP Matt Thomson (San Diego) started the game on the hill and was very effective, tossing five innings and allowing just three hits and one run. He handed it over to LHP Elliot Glynn (Connecticut) in the sixth with the one run lead.

Glynn found himself in a bit of trouble after allowing three hits to start the inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out, SS/OF Evan Crawford (Indiana) scorched a ball down the third base line. Murphy made a diving stop and threw the ball home from his knees in time to record the force out. Glynn came back and struck out the next two hitters to escape the jam with the lead still in tact.

The Kettleers found themselves in another big situation at the plate in the eighth. This time, however, they capitalized. 1B Kevin Patterson (Auburn) led off the frame with a triple to deep center. He scored on a base hit by 3B Jeff Kobernus (California) to tie the game. Later, C Robert Stock (USC) executed a safety squeeze that scored Kobernus and gave the Kettleers the lead. They went on to add one more and took a 4-2 lead.

The victory for the Cardinals gave them two points on the rest of the Eastern Division as they were the only team in action tonight. They now have a 6-7 record overall and will host Brewster tomorrow at 7:00pm.

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Home Firebirds News Game Day Central Roster Statistics Coaching Staff Sounds of the Game Clinics Volunteer Alumni Contact	After Tossing Back-to-Back Shutouts, Tables Turn on Cardinals June 30, 2008 Orleans, Mass. – It wasn’t pretty, but the Cardinals found a way to scratch out an extra inning victory. A bunt laid down by 3B Mike Murphy (Maryland) in the bottom of the tenth scored OF Alex Hassan (Duke) to give the Cardinals the 5-4 victory over Cotuit. The two squads combined to make 10 errors on the evening and two of them ultimately did Cotuit in. Hassan led off the tenth by putting a ball in play on the left side that was scooped up by 2B/SS Dallas Poulk (NC State). Poulk threw it away and the winning run moved into scoring position for the Cards. Orleans 2B Kyle Spraker (Loyola Marymount) laid down a bunt to move Hassan over that was botched by RHP Danny Meszaros (College of Charleston). With two on, nobody out and the winning run at third, Murphy squared around on a safety squeeze and put the bunt down to bring in Hassan and win the game. Murphy was also the reason the game went into extra innings in the first place. With the Cardinals trailing by a run in the eighth, Murphy lined a two out pitch up the middle that fell just in front of an outstretched Poulk. The Cotuit infielder gathered himself to throw the ball over to first but it was not in time to retire Murphy as Spraker came around to tie it up. Orleans held a 2-1 lead for most of the contest after picking up two runs in the first. RHP Matt Thomson (San Diego) started the game on the hill and was very effective, tossing five innings and allowing just three hits and one run. He handed it over to LHP Elliot Glynn (Connecticut) in the sixth with the one run lead. Glynn found himself in a bit of trouble after allowing three hits to start the inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out, SS/OF Evan Crawford (Indiana) scorched a ball down the third base line. Murphy made a diving stop and threw the ball home from his knees in time to record the force out. Glynn came back and struck out the next two hitters to escape the jam with the lead still in tact. The Kettleers found themselves in another big situation at the plate in the eighth. This time, however, they capitalized. 1B Kevin Patterson (Auburn) led off the frame with a triple to deep center. He scored on a base hit by 3B Jeff Kobernus (California) to tie the game. Later, C Robert Stock (USC) executed a safety squeeze that scored Kobernus and gave the Kettleers the lead. They went on to add one more and took a 4-2 lead. The victory for the Cardinals gave them two points on the rest of the Eastern Division as they were the only team in action tonight. They now have a 6-7 record overall and will host Brewster tomorrow at 7:00pm. (Unofficial Box Score)