Bandits starting pitcher Ivan Epps on his outing: pic.twitter.com/MUNY7z7s9e
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 18, 2019
by Ethan Marshall
The Oil City Bandits scored three runs in the first inning without the benefit of a hit and never looked back as they defeated the Islip Owls 4-2 in five innings.
Bandits starting pitcher Ivan Epps allowed two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks over 3.1 innings. His only blemish came in the second inning on a two-run double by Brandon Ruocco after back-to-back walks to open the frame. The other two hits he allowed both came on swinging bunts down the third base line that the hitters barely managed to beat out.
According to Bandits head coach Tommy Beirne, Epps looked better as the game went along, but he had to be pulled once his pitch count became too high. “The seven Ks definitely stand out and helped [Epps] build that confidence,” Coach Beirne said. “He comes in once in a while for relief, but it was a good outing for him today.”
The Bandits batted around in the first inning without having the ball leave the infield. Ryan Piccola and Todd Seggara started the rally with back-to-back walks before a double-steal put runners on second and third for Ivan Epps, who hit a grounder to the third baseman. However, Piccola was able to beat the throw home, and everybody was safe. After a walk to Dan Pignataro loaded the bases, Dylan Beirne drove in the second run on a RBI ground out to the first baseman. Carson Fessler and Chase Haffey followed then recorded back-to-back walks, with the latter forcing in the third run of the inning.
After allowing the two-run double in the second inning Epps proceeded to strike out three of the next four batters, allowing an infield hit to Macon Ruocco before striking out Emil Perez to strand the tying run at third.
Bandits head coach Tommy Beirne on his team’s victory: pic.twitter.com/ScS8WZiXsC
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 18, 2019
The fourth and final run for the Bandits came in the fourth inning. After a one-out walk, Carson Fessler stole second before advancing to third later in the inning on a wild pitch. Sean Arnett brought Fessler home with a two-out RBI single.
The game ended up getting cut short with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning due to a time limit. Two major factors that led to the game dragging on included the long bottom half of the first inning where the Bandits put together several long at-bats, and a delay prior to the start of the third inning.
Epps was pulled with one out in the fourth inning after allowing back-to-back walks, but his replacement, Todd Seggara, bailed him out by retiring the next two batters. He also pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
Jack Smar and Kevin Fajardo did a solid job keeping the Owls in the game after starting pitcher Pop Valdes was only able to retire one batter. Smar allowed just one run in 3.1 innings of relief, while Fajardo retired two of the three batters he faced before the game ended.
