LI Titans Complete Dramatic Comeback to Sweep DH, 11-1 and 11-10

By: Daniel Lopes

The Long Island Titans and EEP Bandits gathered on Saturday morning for a doubleheader, with the Titans coming out on top in both games by scores of 11-1 and 11-10. The first game ended after four innings and the second game was a back-and-forth affair that came all the way down to the last batter of the sixth inning. 

Game One

The Titans pick up four runs in the top of the fourth inning, including this RBI double.

B4|| Titans 11, Bandits 1 pic.twitter.com/dObmw1b1bf

— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 16, 2022

The Titans got on the board early and often in the first game, starting with a three-run first inning. Dylan Sanders got the inning started with a single, and Maverick Dejong kept the line moving with a single of his own. Both of the runners scored when Zach Mezrahi hit a bases-clearing triple to give them the early 2-0 lead. Vincent Bove added onto the lead, hitting an RBI single on the next batter.

They picked up right where they left off in the second inning, as Jackson So started everything off with a single. After stealing a base, he came around to score on an RBI single from Jack Moran. Later in the inning, Sanders drove Moran in with another single and Dejong drove in a pair of runners after reaching on an error, giving the Titans a 7-0 lead. 

The Bandits got on the board in the third inning, thanks to some creative baserunning by Riley Belrado. After reaching on a single, he made it to third base on a steal and a passed ball. While on third, he forced a pickoff throw from the catcher that went into left field, allowing him to score. 

Keeping the Bandits’ bats in check on the mound for the Titans was Mezrahi. He pitched all four innings of the game, allowing two hits, walking one batter, and striking out eight

The Titans added their finishing touches on the game in the fourth inning, scoring four more runs to give them the win by mercy rule, 11-1. This inning was highlighted by a pair of RBI doubles from Matt Schlitt and Dejong. Moran also added another RBI single, his second of the game.

Game Two

The Titans rally back in the bottom of the sixth inning and get the walk-off win

FINAL|| Titans 11, Bandits 10@EcybTournaments pic.twitter.com/k8tgTkrOe6

— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 16, 2022

The Bandits were the first to get on the board in this game, having a three run inning of their own to start the game. After Johan Perez was hit by a pitch to start the game, he came across to score the first run on an RBI double from Joseph Martinez. Xavier Davis came up next, driving in Martinez with an RBI single. He scored later on in the inning when Xavier Dejesus hit an RBI double to give them the early 3-0 lead. 

They added on in the top of the second inning with two more runs. Once again, the top of the lineup powered a rally, as Perez singled and scored on another double from Martinez. Davis once again drove in Martinez, this time with an RBI triple to give them the 5-0 lead. 

The Titans began to come back in the bottom of the second inning. After leading off the inning with a double, Mezrahi scored on an RBI single by Bove. Later in the inning, Johnny Paglia drove in Bove with an RBI triple. After getting the second run on a big hit, the Titans used small ball to get the third run, as Paglia scored on a sacrifice bunt by So to cut their deficit to 5-3. They added another run in the bottom of the third, this time on an RBI single from Dejong.

As the game turned to the later innings, both teams started trading runs. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bandits got a run back on Davis’ third RBI hit of the game, this one an RBI single to drive in Perez. In the top half of the fifth, the Titans responded again, scoring two runs on a two-run single from Paglia, tying the game at six.

Once again, the Bandits got a run back, re-taking the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from Perez. Not to be outdone, the Titans scored three runs in the top of the sixth, taking a 9-7 lead. Sanders tied the game back up with an RBI single. For the second time of the game, the Titans used small ball, as Chase Eichner attempted a safety squeeze bunt. It worked, as he reached base. In the chaos of the play, two runs scored, giving the Titans the lead. 

In the top of the sixth inning, the Bandits rallied, scoring three runs of their own. After Davis and Jacob Cabeza hit singles, Jordan Parrish tied the game up with a two-run single. They scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball, giving them a 10-9 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. 

After reaching on a walk to start the inning, Nebojsa Jovic made it around the bases on a fielder’s choice and a passed ball to tie the game at 10. So reached after getting hit with a pitch, making it to third base on the passed ball. After bringing the infield in, Schlitt hit a grounder to the second baseman. He threw home, but not in time to catch So, who slid in to secure the walkoff win for the Titans, their second of the day.