CONCORD, N.H. - NHTI Baseball erased a 10-run deficit and forced extra innings Friday afternoon, but Central Maine Community College scored twice in the 10th to escape the NHTI Baseball Field with a 16-14 victory in the Lynx's Yankee Small College Conference opener.
NHTI fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play despite scoring 10 unanswered runs from the seventh through ninth innings to erase what had been a 14-4 Central Maine advantage.
Central Maine struck first with three runs in the third. After a leadoff single and walk, a bunt single combined with a throwing error brought home the first run of the game. A groundout plated another before a bases-loaded walk extended the Mustangs' advantage to 3-0.
The Lynx answered in the bottom half. Dillon Depietro (Amherst, N.H.) opened the inning with a single before Brenden Ringman (Chicopee, Mass.) walked. Depietro was thrown out attempting to advance on a double-steal attempt, but Ringman moved into scoring position and came home when Owen Stewart (Pembroke, N.H.) lined a two-out single up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Central Maine added three more runs in the fourth, using aggressive baserunning and NHTI miscues to stretch its lead to 6-1.
NHTI responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Darien Mercedes (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) opened the frame with a single and was advanced to second on a groundout from Caden Jordan (Hooksett, N.H.). Camden Morrill (Raymond, N.H.) was hit by a pitch in the following at-bat, and after the runners advanced on a double steal, Depietro drove home Mercedes with a deflected single off the pitcher's glove. A Central Maine throwing error then allowed another run to score, and a passed ball brought Depietro home to pull the Lynx within 6-4.
The Mustangs broke the game open in the fifth. Central Maine scored eight times in the inning, capitalizing on walks, passed balls and defensive miscues before punctuating the frame with a three-run home run to take a 14-4 lead.
From there, however, NHTI began to work its way back into the game.
Isaac Clough (Antrim, N.H.) entered on the mound during the fifth and settled in from there, holding the Mustangs scoreless from the sixth through the ninth and giving the NHTI offense an opportunity to mount its comeback.
The rally began in the seventh. Stewart was hit by a pitch, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jordan. After Preston Stowe (Hatteras, N.C.) walked and Morrill was hit by a pitch, Daniel Sherkanowski (Bristol, N.H.) drove a two-run double to left field to make it 14-7. Sherkanowski then stole third and scored when the catcher's throw got away, cutting the deficit to 14-8.
NHTI added three more in the eighth. Harrison Reeder (Exeter, N.H.) led off with an infield single before Ringman walked. Each runner advanced on a passed ball in the ensuing at-bat. Stewart brought home Reeder on a ground ball to make it 14-9, and an error on the third baseman's transfer allowed Stewart to reach first safely. After another passed ball advanced the runners, Stowe reached on an infield grounder that allowed Ringman to score, cutting the deficit to 14-10. Stewart then alertly raced home during the continuation of the play to bring NHTI within three at 14-11.
The Lynx nearly added another run later in the inning when Jordan doubled and Morrill lined out to center. A runner appeared to score on the sacrifice attempt, but Central Maine appealed that the runner left third early, and the runner was ruled out, keeping the score at 14-11.
After Clough worked another scoreless top of the ninth, NHTI completed the comeback in the bottom half.
Depietro singled with one out and Reeder was hit by a pitch before a diving catch in left field recorded the second out. Stewart then delivered one of the biggest hits of the afternoon, driving a two-run double over the center fielder's head to cut the Mustangs' lead to 14-13.
Pierre Mendez (Manchester, N.H.) followed with an RBI double to left field, scoring Stewart and tying the game at 14-14. Stowe was hit by a pitch and Jordan was later hit to load the bases, but Central Maine escaped the inning on a close play at first and sent the game to extras.
With the automatic runner beginning the 10th at second base, Central Maine regained the lead on an RBI single. A run-scoring double later in the inning extended the Mustangs' advantage to 16-14 before NHTI escaped the frame with three strikeouts.
The Lynx also began their half of the 10th with the automatic runner at second but were unable to produce another rally. The runner was thrown out attempting to steal third before Central Maine recorded the final two outs to end the game.
Depietro finished with three hits and an RBI, while Stewart delivered a pair of key run-producing hits, including his two-run double in the ninth. Sherkanowski added a two-run double, Mendez supplied the game-tying hit, and Jordan contributed a sacrifice fly and several defensive plays in center field.
NHTI's late push turned a 14-4 deficit into a 14-14 game before Central Maine ultimately prevailed in 10 innings.
UP NEXT
The Lynx return to action Tuesday, September 15 in Concord for a scrimmage versus Vermont State University Randolph. First pitch for that game is scheduled at 3:30 p.m.
