A single by Riley Reynolds (Vanderbilt) gave Chatham its second consecutive walk off victory over the Brewster Whitecaps, this time a 5-4 victory in ten innings at Veterans Field. The Anglers had previously defeated the Whitecaps with a walk off win on July 22, winning 3-2, also in ten innings. Chatham's record now stands at 14-18-1. Chatham's 29 points is eight behind Orleans' 37 for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division.
Brian Humphries (Pepperdine) led off the bottom of the tenth inning with a single off of Brewster reliever Colton Murray (Kansas). Catcher Jacob Stallings (UNC) moved Humphries into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Reynolds was then able to end the game, driving in his second run of the night, lacing a single into center field to score Humphries without a throw. It was the first earned run surrendered by Murray on the season as he suffered his first defeat.
For a while it looked as if the Anglers wouldn't need extra innings to pick up the win. The Anglers held a 4-1 lead in the top of the ninth before the Whitecaps rallied to send the game into extra innings. Kevin Vance (Connecticut) came on for Chatham and struck out the first two batters he faced before allowing a single to right field by Andy Burns (Kentucky). After Taylor Ard (Mt. Hood CC) reached on an error by Reynolds at shortstop, Derek Jones (Washington State) doubled to right field, just out of the diving reach of Beau Amaral (UCLA), to score Burns and Ard. Taylor Featherston (TCU) followed with a single to right to score Jones from second base, just ahead of the throw from Amaral, tying the game at four.
Chatham starter Chris Munnelly (UNC) shut down the Brewster lineup in six innings of work, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out four batters. The lone run surrendered by Munnelly was unearned as Jon Berti (Bowling Green) was able to score from third as a throw from Stallings got away from third baseman Mark Ginther (Oklahoma State). With one out in the top of the third inning, Berti reached on an error by Reynolds, stole second base and moved to third on a ground out. With Berti leading off of third, Stallings tried to pick Berti off of third but Ginther could not handle the throw allowing Brewster to take a 1-0 lead.
Brewster starter Andrew Lubinsky (Minnesota) limited the Anglers through the first three innings before getting touched for two runs in the fourth. Ginther and Aaron Westlake (Vanderbilt), the first two batters of the inning, each singled and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Joe DePinto (USC). Humphries then gave Chatham a 2-1 lead, lacing a two-run double down the first base line, just out of the reach of Brewster first baseman Taylor Ard (Mt. Hood CC). It would be the last inning for Lubinsky, who allowed five hits in his four innings of work while striking out two.
The Anglers would add to their lead in the bottom of the seventh as Rick Oropesa (USC) drove in Jason Martin (San Jose State) from third with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Chatham would go ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the eighth when Westlake was able to score his second run of the night on an infield single by Reynolds with two outs.
The Anglers will play a double header against the Bourne Braves tomorrow at Veterans Field, with the first pitch of Game 1 scheduled for 4pm. Tune in to the broadcast starting at 3:40pm with the Anglers Extra Pregame Show by going to www.chathamanglers.com, or dial in to the TRZ Teamline on your home or mobile telephone at 1-800-846-4700, team code 3841.
