Six-Run Third Guides Sickles To Victory Over Hillsborough

All it takes is one inning to completely change the way that a game is going. For the Sickles Gryphons, the third inning in Thursday night’s game really was their inning. Scoring six runs in the third thanks to clutch two-out hitting and good vision at the plate, Marc Eskew’s team was able to come out and upset Hillsborough 6-1 en route to securing their second victory of the year.

The third inning featured RBIs from center fielder Greyson Butler, designated hitter Daniel Bernstein, and third baseman Gabe Montagna. The additional two runs came courtesy of catcher Matthew Lewis and second baseman Zane Tarrance, and occurred due to errors. Bernstein’s double gave the Gryphons a 4-0 lead, and was the only extra-base hit that Sickles recorded on the night. During that third frame the Gryphons also drew two walks and were hit by pitches twice.

Pitching for Sickles and earning the win was Grant Baker, who threw 64% of his pitches for strikes and recorded six punchouts. Baker was also extremely efficient when it came to starting at-bats out right, as he threw first-pitch strikes to fourteen of the nineteen men he faced.

While Hillsborough starting pitching struggled, Jarred Cande and Nick Rumano both were fantastic out of the bullpen. The pair struck out five Gryphons in their two-and-two-third combined innings of work.

Hillsborough’s lone run came by way of an error on a ball hit by Jarred Cande in the top of the seventh inning against pitcher Michael Huchro, who struck out two in his only inning of work.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!