Orleans Firebirds

Cardinals Pick Up Four Point "Swing" from Figueroa

July 15, 2008

Orleans, Mass. – The Orleans Cardinals had a six point lead over the Brewster Whitecaps in the Eastern Division entering tonight. With a win, the Cardinals could increase that lead to eight points. With a loss, it would drop to just four. SS Cole Figueroa (Florida) took the four point swing into his own hands, and delivered a two-run walk-off single to win the ballgame for Orleans.

The Cardinals entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2. OF Alex Hassan (Duke) drew a walk with one down and 1B Nate Freiman (Duke) singled with two outs to keep the game going. 2B Kyle Spraker (Loyola Marymount) was hit by a pitch from LHP Iden Nazario (Miami) to load the bases and set the stage for Figueroa.

Facing a full count with the game on the line, Figueroa fouled off a pitch before he lined a base hit to left. LHP Elliot Glynn (UCONN), who pinch-ran for Freiman, was moving with the pitch and crossed the plate easily to score the game-winner for the Cardinals.

It was the 11^th win for Orleans in July and gives them an 11-2-1 mark for the month. The Cardinals are now 10-1-1 in their last 12 games.

Brewster picked up all three of their runs in the fifth inning after Cardinals starter LHP Rob Rasmussen (UCLA) found some two-out trouble. Whitecaps DH Brent Milleville (Stanford) took him deep over the left-field fence for a two-run shot that gave his team a 2-1 lead. 1B Ryan Wheeler (Loyola Marymount) and 3B Connor Powers (Mississippi St.) hit back-to-back singles to make it 3-0.

The Cardinals had an answer to the three run inning with a solo blast from Freiman to lead off the bottom of the fifth. It was Freiman’s third home run in as many days and fourth in the past week.

After a couple of base hits from Spraker and C Hampton Tignor (Florida)¸ the Cardinals were in business once again. OF Gary Brown (Cal State Fullerton) hit a groundball that turned into a fielder’s choice to score Spraker from third and make it a one run game.

Both teams would trade scoreless frames until the bottom of the ninth when Figueroa’s heroics ensued.

Orleans received solid bullpen performances from RHP Brad Gemberling (Princeton) and RHP Brad Stillings (Kent State). Gemberling pitched out of a bases loaded jam to end the fifth and tossed 1.1 scoreless frames. Stillings threw three shutout innings and struck out two as he picked up his first win of the season.

The Cardinals will take their league best 17-9-1 mark to Hyannis tomorrow night and face the Mets who have the second best record in the league at 16-11. It will be a pitching rematch of the July 10^th game between the two squads when LHP Eric Erickson (Miami) took on RHP Graham Stoneburner (Clemson). Hyannis won the pitcher’s duel 1-0 in the only game the Cardinals have dropped since July 2^nd.

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Home Firebirds News Game Day Central Roster Statistics Coaching Staff Sounds of the Game Clinics Volunteer Alumni Contact	Cardinals Pick Up Four Point "Swing" from Figueroa July 15, 2008 Orleans, Mass. – The Orleans Cardinals had a six point lead over the Brewster Whitecaps in the Eastern Division entering tonight. With a win, the Cardinals could increase that lead to eight points. With a loss, it would drop to just four. SS Cole Figueroa (Florida) took the four point swing into his own hands, and delivered a two-run walk-off single to win the ballgame for Orleans. The Cardinals entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2. OF Alex Hassan (Duke) drew a walk with one down and 1B Nate Freiman (Duke) singled with two outs to keep the game going. 2B Kyle Spraker (Loyola Marymount) was hit by a pitch from LHP Iden Nazario (Miami) to load the bases and set the stage for Figueroa. Facing a full count with the game on the line, Figueroa fouled off a pitch before he lined a base hit to left. LHP Elliot Glynn (UCONN), who pinch-ran for Freiman, was moving with the pitch and crossed the plate easily to score the game-winner for the Cardinals. It was the 11^th win for Orleans in July and gives them an 11-2-1 mark for the month. The Cardinals are now 10-1-1 in their last 12 games. Brewster picked up all three of their runs in the fifth inning after Cardinals starter LHP Rob Rasmussen (UCLA) found some two-out trouble. Whitecaps DH Brent Milleville (Stanford) took him deep over the left-field fence for a two-run shot that gave his team a 2-1 lead. 1B Ryan Wheeler (Loyola Marymount) and 3B Connor Powers (Mississippi St.) hit back-to-back singles to make it 3-0. The Cardinals had an answer to the three run inning with a solo blast from Freiman to lead off the bottom of the fifth. It was Freiman’s third home run in as many days and fourth in the past week. After a couple of base hits from Spraker and C Hampton Tignor (Florida)¸ the Cardinals were in business once again. OF Gary Brown (Cal State Fullerton) hit a groundball that turned into a fielder’s choice to score Spraker from third and make it a one run game. Both teams would trade scoreless frames until the bottom of the ninth when Figueroa’s heroics ensued. Orleans received solid bullpen performances from RHP Brad Gemberling (Princeton) and RHP Brad Stillings (Kent State). Gemberling pitched out of a bases loaded jam to end the fifth and tossed 1.1 scoreless frames. Stillings threw three shutout innings and struck out two as he picked up his first win of the season. The Cardinals will take their league best 17-9-1 mark to Hyannis tomorrow night and face the Mets who have the second best record in the league at 16-11. It will be a pitching rematch of the July 10^th game between the two squads when LHP Eric Erickson (Miami) took on RHP Graham Stoneburner (Clemson). Hyannis won the pitcher’s duel 1-0 in the only game the Cardinals have dropped since July 2^nd. (Unofficial Box Score)