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| Photo Credit: St. Thomas Aquinas The Spartans Forced a Deciding Game against Dowling |
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”, is the old saying. Well, perhaps Dowling prematurely celebrated the East Region title because they came out flat this afternoon, and now will be facing the pressure of not squandering a golden opportunity to qualify for the College World Series.
Neither offenses were not sharp today, as both Kyle DeMeo and Mike Gonzalez were crisp on the mound. The Spartans broke through first with back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth inning to build a 2-0 lead. In the bottom half, Dan Parisi was caught stealing, but Andrew Abreu scampered home to get the Golden Lions on the board.
The score stayed that way until the seventh when JC Brandmaier clobbered a solo home run to left center to tie the game. Gonzalez got out of the inning after that.
DeMeo lasted 6+ innings allowed one ER, struck out four and walked three. It was the first time in the tournament that their starter did not throw a complete game.
Robert Rose came on and induced a ground ball that was not converted into an out, charged with an error to RJ Going. He came out, and Tyler Badamo came in relief two days after throwing a shutout. He allowed a bloop single, it was muffed by Jon Cruz and it allowed the go-ahead run to score. Fair or not, Rose was charged with the run.
In the bottom of the eight, Dowling had second and third with one one after a walk and a bunt-turned-into-single by Abreu. Going sacrificed them to scoring position. Third baseman, CJ Ferriggi, came in relief to face Parisi. He struck him out for the second out. Next up was Brandmeier. Not only did they not walk the dangerous first baseman, but he struck him out to end the threat.
In the top of the ninth, Ferriggi came to bat with a man on second. Just like in little league,, he drove a single to right field to help himself. That made the score 4-2, a score that stood up. He closed the door for his 10th save of the season.
This continues a troubling pattern for Dowling. They lost to ECC-rival St. Thomas Aquinas for the third time in potential series-clinching game. The first two came last weekend at their home turf. Now they will have to prove their rivals have not gotten in their head, and it will be without the benefit of one of their fresh aces.
The “Killer B’s”, Badamo-Bammann-Bessell, have been tremendous all year and throughout the first three games of the regional tournament. The problem is, however, they will need one more victory and unless Badamo can be sharp on two days rest the past does not help them in this game.
The bullpen has been used only sporadically this season and it is difficult to trust an unproven commodity in the biggest game of the season.
