SURF LOSE BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR
June 29 Recap
(Augusta, NJ) - In a back and forth game, the Surf (17-19) dropped the series finale to the Skyhawks (19-17), who completed the series sweep, in a Can-Am League game Sunday afternoon at Skylands Park.
LF Billy Kovatch (above) went 3-4, but it was not enough. Kovatch was 7-13 in the series with four RBI's.
The Skyhawks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning off of Surf starter Aaron Easton (1-3). CF Ron Perodin led off the game with a single, and moved to third when the next batter, SS Kevin Rios, also singled. With one out, the DH Walter Young walked to load the bases. 1B Matthew Weston delivered the big blow, a double that plated two runs.
The Surf responded in the top half of the second with two runs off their own off of Skyhawks' starter Mark Michaels (1-2). C William Plaza walked with one out, and scored when RF Josh Burrus tripled, his first of the season. Burrus would later score on a 3B Gil Zayas sac fly.
In the third inning, the Surf would take a 3-2 lead. SS Anthony Granato walked with one out, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kovatch then roped an RBI single to right, scoring Granato and giving the Surf a 3-2 lead, the last they would have in the game.
In the bottom of the third, Young singled, and moved to second when LF Alex Frazier was hit by a pitch. 2B Chris Brown singled, scoring Young from second. Sussex would take a 4-3 lead in the fifth, when Frazier crushed a first pitch Easton fastball to left center, giving the Skyhawks a 4-3 lead. It was Frazier's league lead tying seventh home run.
Atlantic City tied it once again in the top of the sixth. 1B Eddie Kim and Plaza led off with singles, and the bases were loaded with no outs when Burrus was hit by a pitch. Zayas then hit a sacrifice to left, that scored Kim to tie the game.
The final and eventual game winning run was scored in bottom of the sixth. Perodin singled with one out, and scored when Rios doubled. Rios was 9-14 in the series, with two game winning RBI's. Skyhawks reliever James Douglas worked a three inning save to shut the door on Atlantic City.
Easton earned the loss for the Surf, tossing 5 1/3 innings and allowing all five runs on eleven hits, while striking out two and walking two. The combined relief efforts off Walker Whitley and Kyle George threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, but the Surf were not able to get the big hit off of Douglas.
It was the second time in three series the Surf have gotten swept, and they drop to two games below .500 for the first time this season. Tomorrow they head to Nashua for a three game series. The Surf won three of four from the Pride earlier this week in Atlantic City. Rory Shortell (0-1) starts for the Surf.
