Waves Drop Third Game of the Season

The Ocean State Waves fell to the Valley Blue Sox, 6-5, on a walk-off hit Saturday night. Despite leading by four runs entering the eighth inning, the Waves were unable to hold off the Blue Sox in late innings.

Despite the loss, Waves pitchers Sawyer Deering and Trey Telfer turned in standout performances. Deering pitched four scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out five batters. Telfer pitched three innings, allowing just one earned run.

Telfer started on the mound for the Waves but found himself in a tough situation after the Valley Blue Sox were able to get batters on bases early in the bottom of the first.

The Blue Sox got on the scoreboard early after Eddison Esquivel grounded out to first base which brought in Anthony Tirado in from third to score. 

For the first two innings, Blue Sox pitcher Jackson Hinchliffe held the Waves hitless.

Telfer recorded the first strikeout of the game to end the first inning and keep the Blue Sox

The Blue Sox did not have the lead for long, after Thomas Melukey doubled to left center, earning himself an RBI to send Gavin Marchese in to score.

With a 1-1 game entering the bottom of the third, the Blue Sox looked to get back in the lead but Telfer remained strong on the mound to close out the inning

At the top of the fourth, Brodey Bitove doubled to center field with zero outs to give the Waves another strong scoring chance.

After Cameron Papetti struck out, Jack LaRose worked a walk, allowing Bitove to advance to third with one out. 

Kalen Applefield gave the Waves their first lead of the game with a bases clearing double just inside the left-field line, scoring Bitove and LaRose to put the Waves ahead 3-1.

The Waves continued to build momentum later in the inning. After Adonis Medina and Applefield reached scoring position, Marchese lined a single that brought both runners home, extending the Waves' lead 5-1.

During the bottom of the fourth, Deering took over on the mound for Telfer and immediately settled in. He tossed a scoreless inning to preserve the four-run lead and send the game to the fifth. 

In the top of the fifth, Bitove added to his hitting streak, singling to left field before stealing second base. However, Blue Sox starter Hinchliffe stayed strong on the mound to get three outs and keep the Blue Sox within four. 

The Blue Sox made their first pitching change of the game at the top of the sixth, swapping out Hinchliffe for Gregory Bruno.

For the Waves, Deering continued to dominate on the mound. He added to his strikeout total and kept the Waves in front 5-1 to close out the sixth inning.

After a quiet top of the seventh for the Waves, Deering returned to the mound in the bottom of the inning where he prevented the Blue Sox offense from getting more runs on the board.

The game took a turn in the bottom of the eighth when Deering was relieved by Max Marchetti. The Blue Sox capitalized on the pitching change, scoring two runs to cut the Waves' lead to 5-3.

With the bases loaded and one out, the Waves turned to Andrew Jacobs from the University of Arizona. Trevor Harmon brought in another run for the Blue Sox to bring the game within one. Despite a diving stop by Jacobs that resulted in an out at first base, a runner from third scored on the play to tie the game at 5-5.

The Waves looked to respond in the top of the ninth. Marchese drew a walk to reach base, but was caught stealing second for the Waves' second out. The Waves were unable to get a run on the board to send the game into the bottom of the ninth tied.

Tirado delivered the game-winning hit for the Blue Sox, driving in Nico Soul for a walk-off victory.

Despite the loss, the Waves received strong pitching performances from both Telfer and Deering, who combined to hold the Blue Sox to just one run through the first seven innings.

The Waves will look to snap their three-game losing streak when they travel to Mystic, Connecticut on Monday to take on the Mystic Schooners.