By Gabbi Riggi
LYNN —The North Shore Navigators’ consistent offensive locked down a 5-0 victory against the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs on Monday night.
Leadoff hitter Joey Pena (St. Thomas Aquinas) started the game off for the Navigators with a walk and stolen base, setting up the number two hitter Tyler Kapuscinski (Marist) to bring him home on a single.
The Navigators continued pacing in runs in the third inning as Brad Douglas (Rhode Island College) advanced to second after a ground ball throw escaped the first baseman. The error was the first of four for Wachusett in the game. Douglas came in as the third run after a wild pitch sputtered to the backstop.
Matt O’Connor (UMass Lowell) the North Shore starter pitched six innings working a great deal of ground balls, surrendering no walks and striking out three. Cole Bradley and Chris Pennell were solid in a combined three innings of relief, striking out a combined four.
Douglas again contributed to the offense in the bottom of the seventh working a walk and stealing second; an error by the first baseman allowed him to come home to give the Navigators a 4-0 lead.
The first man up for the Navigators again kick started the offense in the bottom of the eighth as Daane Berezo (VCU) singled himself on. A failed pickoff attempt that spilled into center field brought Berezo over to third. After Jeff Mejia (UMass Lowell) grounded out, Chris Cabrera (Broward) rifled a long single to left center field. The centerfielder bobbled the play, allowing Berezo to score and leave Cabrera on second.
Catcher Nate Rossi (Keene State) worked a walk to put two runners on and was joined on base by Douglas after getting clipped by a pitch in tight. With two outs, Kapuscinski drew a walk to bring in Cabrera and keep the bases loaded. Nick Falkson would strike out swinging, but the Navigators offense had done enough to ensure the victory.
The Dirt Dawgs continue to struggle, dropping their fifth straight to hold an 18-13 record. The Navigators improve to 12-17 and sit five points behind third place in the Eastern division. North Shore hits the road for three straight in the week leading up to the All Star Game before heading home on Friday.
