Vermont  2-1 and 10-o victories over Nashua in front of 4,030 fans

Game 1 boxscore
Game 2 boxscore

BURLINGTON, VT — Starters Evan Maloney and Ethan Bowen along with relievers Callen Fang and Ethan Mishra combined to allow just one unearned run over 13 innings as the Vermont Lake Monsters swept a Futures League doubleheader 2-1 and 10-0 over the Nashua Silver Knights in front of 4,030 at historic Centennial Field on Sunday evening. 

In the opener, Maloney (Rhode Island) allowed an unearned run on two hits in the second, but retired 13 of the final 15 batters he faced including the final seven after a two-out single and walk in fourth. The no earned runs over six innings lowered his league-leading  ERA to 1.59 overall.

Vermont got unearned runs in the second when Trevor Cohen (Rutgers) was able to score from first base when the Nashua rightfielder slipped on a hit-and-run Colin Barczi (Vanderbilt) single. The Lake Monsters scored the go ahead run in fourth when Eric Becker (Virginia) reached on a two-base error by the centerfielder, advanced to third on a strikeout wild pitch and scored on a throwing error. 

Bowen (Rutgers) tossed five scoreless innings for the game two victory, allowing just two hits (back-to-back one-out singles in the fourth)  with one walk and six strikeouts, while the Lake Monsters offense took advantage of six walks and five hit batters by Silver Knight hurlers. 

Barczi gave Vermont a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a three-run homer to center. The Lake Monsters then loaded the bases with no outs in the third on a hit batter and two walks before scoring on a one-out Cohen walk, Kyle McCausland (Middlebury) hit by pitch, run-scoring wild pitch and a Jake Gaudreau (Bryant) two-run single for an 8-0 lead.

Vermont then walked off with a 10-run “mercy rule” victory in the bottom of the sixth on a Jack Winnay (Wake Forest) RBI double and a bases loaded pitch that hit off Barczi’s helmet forcing home the game-ending run.

Winners of three straight, the Lake Monsters (34-30) remain one-half game behind Worcester (35-30) for first-place in the FCBL standings with a week remaining in the regular-season. After an off day Monday, Vermont will host Nashua again Tuesday starting at 6:35pm. 

MONSTER PERFORMANCES

  • Maloney 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO (70 pitches, 44 strikes)
  • Bowen 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO (63 pitches, 44 strikes) 
  • Barczi 2-for-6, HBP, R, HR, 4 RBI 
  • Cohen 2-for-3, 3 BB, 2 R, 2B, RBI 

MONSTER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Fang (Harvard) tossed 1-2-3 top 7th in game 1 for his 6th save, while Mishra (Tulane) tossed 1-2-3 top 6th in game 2 
  • 10-0, 6-inning game 2 victory was Vermont’s 6th “mercy rule” win of season and Lake Monsters 15th in 3 FCBL seasons (just one loss)
  • 11th time Vermont double-digit runs in a game this year (1 for opponents), while scoring 5 or more runs in an inning 14 times (4 times for opponents)
  • With 1 unearned run allowed over 13 innings, Lake Monsters lower league-leading ERA to 3.75 overall 
  • Attendance of 4,030 was 2nd largest of the season at Centennial (4,076 on July 15th) and Vermont has now drawn league-best 66,727 (average per game of 2,383)

Next Game: Tuesday 6:35pm vs. Nashua