Grays Lose Heartbreaker in Extras

By Peter Bartlett

ALEXANDRIA- The D.C. Grays were handed their first loss of the season in heartbreaking fashion as the Alexandria Aces won by a score of 3-2. The game lasted 12 innings and finished on a walk off error. Relief pitcher Ty Morris (Marist University) was awarded the loss, while reliever Nate Lake (Shippensburg University) was given the victory in this fierce pitchers duel.

Ethan Nagy (Lock Haven University) started on the mound for the Grays, and pitched lights out in his first start of the season. Nagy pitched four and two thirds scoreless innings striking out seven Ace hitters and only allowing three hits. The Aces have struggled with strikeouts, having been punched out 39 times through three games. Mason Christopher (Seton Hall University) made his first start for the Aces and matched Nagy's strong performance with one of his own. Christopher pitched five scoreless innings only allowing three hits of his own.

The Grays were able to work themselves out of jams throughout the evening. With two men on and nobody out in the bottom of the fifth, Nagy induced a 4-3 double play. Later in the bottom of the sixth the Aces loaded the bases with two outs, and Drew Norton (Dickinson College) pitching in relief coaxed an easy groundout to strand the runners. The Aces finished the night having left 13 men on base due to clutch pitching and fielding.

Unfortunately, the Aces were up to the task. After a one out triple from second baseman Ryan Soong (Washington Univerisity)  in top of the seventh, the Grays hoped to break the 0-0 tie, but stranded the go-ahead run ninety feet away. Later in the bottom of the seventh the Aces put the first run on the board on two singles. 

With their remaining outs dwindling, left fielder Andrew Ruggeri (University of Pennsylvania) and shortstop Noel Rivera (Marist College) hit two singles in the next half inning to re-tie the game at one. After the Grays loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, the Aces turned to reliever Stephen Curry (Seton Hall University) who struck out two batters and standed the go ahead run and two insurance runs on the bases.  Reliever Alex Bergen (Gettysburg College)  kept the Grays hopes alive with a scoreless bottom of the ninth and the game headed to extras.

Joey Chitla (Wofford) pinch hit in the top of the 10th and scored on a single from third baseman Carter Jenkins (Nicholls State). With a one run lead in the tenth the Aces responded yet again, scoring on a bases loaded walk. One Grays player referred to the Aces as "pesky" watching the game.

In a game where both teams had earned a win, someone had to lose. After two lead off singles in the bottom of the 12th a ball was hit into left. It was caught and the runner from second advanced to third. The throw in got away at third and the runner from second scored. The home crowd loved the sight. 

The Grays look to shake off the loss on Saturday night, hosting the Southern Maryland Senators at 7:00 PM EDT.