Bucs Late Comeback Effort not enough in Loss to Cougars

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass – Following their first win of the season on Tuesday over Pine Manor College, the Buccaneers hosted the Clark University Cougars on Wednesday at Commodore Hendy Field. The Buccaneer offensive troubles continued as Clark combine no-hit their hosts through eight innings, despite the Bucs scoring two runs to that point. In the ninth, Maritime scored four runs, including three on a Matt Langan (North Easton, Mass) home run to left center field but, it wasn't enough as the Cougars won their fifth game of the season, 14-6, over the Academy.

How It Happened

Through 8.1 innings, the Cougars had a three pitcher combined no-hitter going against the Buccaneers. Offensively, Clark scored three runs in the top of the first inning, two that came on a James Huber (Rochester, N.Y.) single through the middle of the infield. They extended their lead to 4-0 in the second.

In the bottom of the third, the Buccaneers cut that four run deficit in half, scoring one run on a wild pitch that scored Jacob Rogers (Dighton, Mass) and a second run when Joe Sanchez (Dracut, Mass) grounded in to a fielder's choice that scored Alex Schlapak (Dover, N.H.) who had previously moved up to third base on the wild pitch that had scored Rogers.

Clark chipped away throughout the rest of the game scoring a run in the sixth, another in the seventh and then broke out, scoring six runs in the eighth. Two of those runs came on bases loaded walks and one on an error. Only one run scored by way of a hit, a single by Andrew Thibeault (Nashua, N.H.).

In the top of the ninth, Clark added two more runs, making it 14 total on the day, to cap off their scoring. In the Bottom of the ninth, the Buccaneers found some life. Jackson Simone (Seattle, Wash), who came off the bench as a defensive replacement in the eighth, recorded the first hit of the game for the Bucs with one out in the inning, which also scored Chris McHugh (Rockland, Mass) who had come off the bench and was hit by a pitch to get on base. AJ Luciano (Lynn, Mass) then reached on an error and catcher Matt Langan (North Easton, Mass), who also came off the bench, hit a three-run homerun to left center field, the first Buccaneer home run of the season, so bring the score to what would be the final, 14-6.

Inside The Numbers

On The Mound

Mass Maritime: Brian Kwedor (Marshfield, Mass) (L, 0-2): 4 IP| 4 H | 4 R | 4 ER | 4 BB | 6 K

Clark: Dan Shaw (Arlington, Mass): 4 IP | 0 H | 2 R | 2 ER | 4 BB | 2 k

Clark: Sean Savage (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) (W, 1-0): 0 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 3 K

At The Plate

Clark hitters accumulated 13 hits and 11 walks in the game but also struck out 11 times and left 14 runners on base.

Zach Kelley (Hadley, Mass) and Thibeault recorded the two extra base hits for the Cougs, both doubles.

Kelley led Clark and the game with three hits, going 3-for-4 on the day with two runs scored and two RBI.

Three players in total had multi-hit games for the visitors.

Nine Cougars had an RBI in the game, including three players that had two apiece.

Two of the three Buccaneers hits in the game came from bench players. The only starter with a hit was Schlapak.

The Bucs had the three hits and drew five walks in the game, leaving three runners on base in total.

Langan had the only extra base hit, the ninth inning homerun.

Up Next: The Buccaneers are back at home tomorrow to take on Wentworth at 3:30pm.