By: Shannon Bickert
Bryce Detwiler (UConn) went 2-3 with two singles, an RBI and two stolen bases in Mystic’s 6-3 victory over Danbury. The Schooners improved to 3-1 on the season with the win.
Liam Chamberlin (portal) got the ball for Mystic, opening the game allowing a bunt single to Aidan Stern (Trinity) and a walk to Gavin Donahue (Sacred Heart), but escaped the inning unscathed.
Michael Delph (West Point) reached on an error in the top of the second and was knocked in on Teddy Cashman’s (Lafayette) bloop single to give Danbury a 1-0 lead.
The Schooners answered in the bottom of the frame. Mystic brought their first baserunner aboard when Detwiler walked. Detwiler made his way around the bases, swiping second and reaching third on the throw down. Jamie Zee (Notre Dame) worked a walk and stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Joel Collado (URI) tied the game at one a piece with a base hit.
Chamberlin worked an efficient six-pitch three up, three down third inning.
Casey Wensley (Bryant) doubled in the right-center field gap in the third inning, but Jacob Hines (CCSU), Danbury’s starting pitcher, stranded Wensley on the basepaths.
Chamberlin allowed the first two baserunners to reach in the fourth inning then recorded two consecutive outs before Zev Salsberg (Bryant) came in relief for Mystic. Salsberg finished the frame on one pitch, forcing a flyout to right field.
Christian Hamilton (Georgetown) reached second on a two-out error and came in to score on a pair of wild pitches to give Mystic their first lead of the game in the fourth inning.
The Westerners answered right back in the fifth. After retiring three straight, Salsberg walked back-to-back batters to set up Matthew Manjooran (Davidson) for an RBI single to knot the game up at two all. Despite allowing traffic on the basepaths, Salsberg struck out two in the frame.
The Schooners moved back in front in the fifth inning. Christian Butera (Brown) knocked his first hit of the year with the Schooners, a gapper double to right-center field. Butera moved to third on a wild pitch, setting up Wensley for a sacrifice fly.
Tro Fellings (Purdue) took the bump in the sixth inning for Mystic with an inherited runner on second base and one out. The southpaw struck out Cashman, but struggled with command against the top of Danbury’s lineup, tossing back-to-back passed balls to bring in the tying run.
Detwiler stole his second bag of the game in the sixth frame after singling, but was doubled up on the basepaths on a fly out to right field to end the inning.
Stephen Curry (Seton Hall) relieved Fellings in the seventh inning. Curry allowed the first two to reach but escaped the traffic jam, striking out two in a row and forcing a ground out to keep it a tied ball game.
The Schooners took the lead in the seventh thanks to patience at the plate. Four Schooners walked in the frame to bring in the go-ahead run. Detwiler added to the lead with an infield single, bringing home Butera. Gabriel Natividad (Winthrop) scored on the Detwiler play, as Danbury’s shortstop made a throwing error to give Mystic a 6-3 lead.
MJ Bollinger (UConn) came out of Mystic’s bullpen and tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning, striking out one. Bollinger stayed in to shut the door on Danbury in the ninth. Bollinger finished his day with a strikeout for the save.
The Schooners return to the Shipyard on Monday, June 8 to face off against Ocean State. First pitch from Fitch High School is set for 6:30 pm.
