By Gabbi Riggi
LYNN – A nine run outburst in the seventh inning sprung the North Shore Navigators by a 9-2 past the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks Thursday night.
The Navigators lineup batted around before marking an out in the inning, as two men walked and seven hit before an out was recorded. The inning was lead off with a double by Tyler Kapuscinski (Marist) who was brought home on a double by Nick Falkson (Tufts). A ground ball past a diving short stop put Alex Brickman on to give the Navigators runners on the corners with no outs.
Nick Furhmann (Frederick CC) singled in Falkson to give the Navigators a 2-1 lead. Jeff Mejia (UMass Lowell) walked and the Navigators loaded the bases as Joey Pena (St. Thomas Aquinas) was called safe at first after the first baseman was unable to cover back after snagging the ball along the third base line.
Chris Farrell came in relief of the Shark’s starter Shawn Banineau, but walked his first batter Nate Rossi (Keene State) to bring in another run. Nine hitter Brad Douglas (Rhode Island College) hit a single that scored in two more for the Navigators to extend the lead to 5-1.
Pena worked a walk to load the bases again, setting Daane Berezo (VCU) for a two RBI single up the middle that was bobbled by the center fielder for an error, scoring two and leaving Berezo standing at third base. Kapuscinski had his second hit of the inning to score Berezo and give the Navigators their ninth run of the night. Sharks reliever Matt Nunes came in and struck out the side to quell the hot bats.
Martha’s Vineyard scored the first run of the game in the top of the third after loading the bases on a single and back-to-back walks. The Navigators tried to work a ground ball to short stop into a double play to end the frame, but a fielder’s choice at first allowed the run to come home. Stefanski, who beat the throw in the third to bring in the first, brought in another RPI on a two-out single to score the Sharks’ Trey Pearce after he doubled on.
Navigators starter Henry Funaro (UMass Lowell) struck out two and surrendered only one run as he became the second pitcher for the North Shore to complete seven innings on the mound. The win put the Navigators closer to an even record at 11-16-0, while the Sharks stumble back to 13-15-0 on the year.
Fraser Field hosts another Futures game on Friday as the Pittsfield Suns to end a three game homestand.
Photo Thursday evening from Fraser Field
