KEENE, N.H. — The hot-hitting Sanford Mainers (18-14) used a big, five-run fourth and insurance runs late to down the struggling Keene Swamp Bats (14-16) 9-5 Monday night from Alumni Field.
Nelson Mompierre (Miami Dade) singled to kick things off in the fourth, joined by Chris Gaetano (Monmouth) and Sam Stauble (Southern Maine) who walked in succession to load the bases. John Cresto (Santa Clara) knocked in one run on an error in the Swamp Bats infield, while Johnny Slater (Michigan) singled in another to bring the Mainers within one, 3-2.
Later in the inning, with the score 3-2, Jordan Powell (Rhode Island) doubled in a pair of runs and Todd Czinege (Villanova) singled in an additional run, making it 5- 3 Mainers. In all, the Mainers scored five runs, four earned, on four hits and three walks, all in the fourth inning alone.
Sanford put the game away in the top of the sixth, after Powell reached on a leadoff error and both Czinege singled and Mompierre walked to load up the bases for the Moose. Gaetano walked to drive in a run, with Stauble providing a single to make it 8-4. Mompierre scored later in the frame on a passed ball, giving the Mainers everything they needed.
Powell had a great night, going 3-for-5, with a double and a pair of RBIs, raising his average to .259. Stauble and Czinege joined him as the other Mainers with multiple hits, each with two apiece.
Ryan O’Connor (Fairfield) had his best performance in a Mainers uniform, going 3 2/3 in relief, allowing three hits, no runs and no walks to the Swamp Bats with three strikeouts. He relieved Cole Whitney (St. Johns), who earned the win for the Mainers in five-and-a-third innings of work.
Sanford finished the night in sole possession of first place in the NECBL Northern Division, extending a full game lead over Valley Blue Sox, whom they hold the tie-breaker over.
Sanford returns home tonight at Goodall Park to face the Winnipesaukee Muskrats for the third time this season, where each team has won all of their home contests. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on the NECBL Broadcast Network.
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