Middletown South snapped a 15-game losing streak to No. 4 ranked Christian Brothers Academy with a 3-1 victory over the Colts on the strength of a brilliant performance by senior righty Nigel Combs.
Combs pitched six innings for the Eagles, scattering four hits and surrendering an earned run to pick up his first victory of the season.
South and CBA were tied 1-1 after the first inning, and that score held up until the fourth.
Junior infielder Kevin Slavin led off the inning with a bunt base hit, and advanced to second base on an error. After a leaping catch by Tyler Cuming moved Slaving to third and junior Chris Bunge walked, senior Jon Altino came to the plate.
Altino delivered a one-single into center field to bring Slavin home what would be the game-winning run.
“I just went up there knowing we needed that run.” Altino, who finished 1 for 3 with a run batted in, said. “We practice situational hitting every day, so I just did what I needed to do to get the run in.”
Slavin drove in an insurance run an inning later, driving in senior Eric Dunn for a 3-1 lead at the end of the fifth.
Junior Kenny Paterson came out of the bullpen in the seventh, and immediately surrendered a bloop hit to right field. After retiring the next two batters, an infield single put the tying run on base, and the go-ahead run at the plate, with two outs.
But Patterson forced a groundball in the hole between the second and first basemen, where Slavin fielded it and threw it to Paterson covering the bag at first to close out the victory.
With their second straight win, the Eagles push their record over .500 at 2-1 (2-1) while the Colts fall to 1-1 (1-1). South looks to ride this wave of momentum into a contest with Freehold Township (3-0, 2-0) on Wednesday.
Combs pitched six innings for the Eagles, scattering four hits and surrendering an earned run to pick up his first victory of the season.
South and CBA were tied 1-1 after the first inning, and that score held up until the fourth.
Junior infielder Kevin Slavin led off the inning with a bunt base hit, and advanced to second base on an error. After a leaping catch by Tyler Cuming moved Slaving to third and junior Chris Bunge walked, senior Jon Altino came to the plate.
Altino delivered a one-single into center field to bring Slavin home what would be the game-winning run.
“I just went up there knowing we needed that run.” Altino, who finished 1 for 3 with a run batted in, said. “We practice situational hitting every day, so I just did what I needed to do to get the run in.”
Slavin drove in an insurance run an inning later, driving in senior Eric Dunn for a 3-1 lead at the end of the fifth.
Junior Kenny Paterson came out of the bullpen in the seventh, and immediately surrendered a bloop hit to right field. After retiring the next two batters, an infield single put the tying run on base, and the go-ahead run at the plate, with two outs.
But Patterson forced a groundball in the hole between the second and first basemen, where Slavin fielded it and threw it to Paterson covering the bag at first to close out the victory.
With their second straight win, the Eagles push their record over .500 at 2-1 (2-1) while the Colts fall to 1-1 (1-1). South looks to ride this wave of momentum into a contest with Freehold Township (3-0, 2-0) on Wednesday.
Video highlights of the game is available here.
No comments:
Post a Comment