Tough loss for the Grays

GAME RECAP  7-12-2015

By: Anna Adunlavey; @annadunlaveyy

​​The Rockville Express scored four runs in the first inning of yesterday’s game, and the Grays never recovered. The final score was a 5-3 Grays loss. The Grays are now 13-20 on the season.

​Zack Irwin (East Mississippi CC) had a shaky start start in his first pitching performance in two weeks, but recovered nicely to give the Grays a solid outing. He gave up six hits over seven innings of work, and four of them were in the first inning. Irwin allowed one run to score on a single and then gave up a three-run homer.

After that, Irwin regained control. He retired the side in order in four of the next six innings he pitched. Irwin allowed another run to score in the top of the seventh, when a batter he had hit with a pitch scored on a single.
​Harry Thomas (UNC-Greensboro) came out in relief for the final two innings. Thomas only gave up one hit, walked one batter, and struck out three.

All three of the Grays’ runs were driven in by SS Jackson Kramer (Lafayette). In the top of the third, LF Harrison Bruce (University of San Francisco) walked and 3B Keifer Rawlings (Bucknell) was hit by a pitch. When Mike Caputo (Seton Hall) struck out and Bryan Baquer (Washington College) hit into a fielder’s choice, Kramer was at bat with two outs and two runners on. Kramer tripled, hitting the gap in deep right center, and scored both Bruce and Baquer.
​In the top of the seventh, Kramer once again came up with two outs, except this time the bases were loaded. RF Tony Holton (Jackson State) and Baquer had singled, and Bruce had walked again. Kramer singled to bring Holton across the plate.

​The Grays will get to rest for a few days with the Ripken League All-Star Break this Monday through Wednesday. Their next game is an away game against the Baltimore Redbirds on Thursday.