By: Shannon Bickert
Mystic won their second straight game with a 4-1 road victory over Bristol on Sunday, June 14. The Schooners moved to 8-2 on the summer with the win.
Bryce Detwiler (UConn) led Mystic’s offense with a two-hit performance. Detwiler also tallied a stolen base and an RBI.
Dominic Pontbriant (USF), Mystic’s starter, allowed two hits in the first but escaped the inning unscathed.
The Schooners brought their first baserunner of the day aboard, Anthony Belisario (Portal), on a walk in the top of the second. Belisario stole second, but John Hughes (UMich) stranded the centerfielder in scoring position.
In the third, the Blues capitalized on traffic and errors to take a one-run lead. Trent Rice reached on an error and moved to third on a stolen base and overthrow, setting up Chris DiPrima for a sacrifice fly.
The Schooners answered in the top of the fourth with a two-run frame. Detwiler knocked the Schooners' first hit of the day, an infield single to short. Casey Wensley (Bryant) laid down a bunt while Detwiler was in motion, allowing Detwiler to score on the overthrow and Wensley to move into second on the play. Wensley took the extra 90 feet on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Devin Russell (Maryland). Anthony Ruggiero (Northeastern) brought in the run on a sacrifice fly to shallow left field.
Pontbriant’s day ended after four. The southpaw allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk, while striking out three.
Nick Santivanez (CSF) made his Schooners debut in the fifth to relieve Pontbriant. Santivanez delivered a walk, but the backstop, Russell, gunned down the runner attempting the steal second to end the frame.
Jack Ballou (Lindsey Wilson) took the mound in the bottom of the sixth. Ballou allowed a walk to Nich Francuzenko (Portal), who moved to second on a passed ball. Steve Polizzi (Portal) ripped a single to right, but Justin Best (Manhattan) threw a perfect hose job home, getting Fracuzenko coming home, keeping the Schooners one-run lead intact.
Liam Chamberlin (Portal) tossed a 1-2-3 seventh for Mystic, retiring the Blues’ bottom third in order.
The Schooners doubled their runs in the eighth inning. Best wore a pitch and swiped second, setting up Jack Harley (Stetson) for an RBI base hit. Detwiler tacked on with his second hit of the day, an RBI single through the right side to give Mystic a 4-1 lead. Detwiler stole second, but was left stranded in scoring position.
Chamberlin went out for a second inning of work in the bottom of the eighth. Chamberlin worked a second quick inning of work, forcing the Blues to go three-up, three-down.
Calvin Gregory (OSU) took the bump in the ninth for the Schooners. Gregory recorded one out before Mystic turned to Connor Lane (UConn) who shut the door on Bristol.
Mystic heads back to the Shipyard to face Martha’s Vineyard. First pitch from Ed Harvey Field is set for 6:30 on Tuesday, June 16.
