Braves’ ‘pen dominates in road win
Tiffany Seal
ORLEANS, Mass.—The Braves trumped the Orleans Firebirds (7-8) 4-2 Sunday night, advancing to a 9-5-1 record.
Arkansas’ Dominic Taccolini took the mound at Orleans Field for his first summer appearance.
Taccolini was drafted in the 16 round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays but opted to return back to school for his senior season.
The Razorback went 3 1-3 innings giving up two earned runs off two hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
The Braves’ bats heated up in the third, when Jake Mangum (Mississippi State) brought in bulldog teammate Elih Marrero to tie the game at one.
Justin Yurchak (Binghamton) sent the Braves into the lead with an RBI single to score Jeremy Eierman (Missouri State,) who had advanced to first on an error from the Firebirds’ third baseman.
Orleans did not go quietly as University of Virginia outfielder Adam Haseley hit a home run off Taccolini in the fourth.
James Ziemba (Duke) entered the game for Taccolini shortly after and pitched one inning, giving up one hit off two walks and two strikeouts.
The Braves’ offense made its last appearance in the fifth off a Connor Wong (Houston) home run to left field for the fourth and final run of the game for either team.
Winning pitcher Brandon Little (UNC Chapel Hill) was able to shut down the Firebird offense, pitching 2 1-3 hitless frames in the sixth, seventh and eighth without a walk and striking out six.
Little had his best appearance yet on the Cape after a rough debut against Cotuit where he was unable to work out of one inning while surrendering three runs.
The Braves have an off-day Monday and head back on the road to face western division rival Cotuit Kettleers (2-12,) 5 Wednesday at Lowell Park.
Bourne has yet to announce a starting pitcher, but the probable for Cotuit is Alec Byrd (Florida State.)
Credit: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/fort_bend/sports/kempner-graduate-taccolini-drafted-by-toronto-in-th-round/article_62326384-30ed-11e6-9f37-075cd142eda1.html
