Hammerheads Swim Strong 10-2
JUPITER, Fla. - The Jupiter Hammerheads swam strong on Thursday night beating the Brevard County Manatees 10-2 at Roger Dean Stadium. The Hammerheads used 13 hits, seven for extra bases, to pick up the eight-run victory.
Jupiter (48-57) was able to light up the scoreboard early and often on Thursday night as they put up three runs in the first inning. The inning included two walks, a RBI-double and two-RBI double. Yefri Perez led the inning off with a walk then stole his league-leading 51st base of the season to move into scoring position. Austin Dean then delivered the RBI-double to give Jupiter a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Harold Riggins drew a two-out walk then Felix Munoz followed with a triple that scored Dean and Riggins to extend the lead to three runs.
Brevard County (43-58) would put its first run on the board in the third to make it 3-1, but that's as close as the Manatees would come to swimming with the Sharks on Thursday night. The Manatees' run was a product of a Michael Ratterree double and Rafael Neda double plus an error by Perez that allowed Ratterree to score the unearned run.
In the fifth, the Hammerheads were able to send all nine players in the batting order to the plate as they scored five runs on just four hits. Of the four hits only one went for extra bases, a bases-clearing double from Dean. Munoz, James Roberts and Cameron Flynn all singled to load the bases before Brevard County could record an out. Rodrigo Vigil was then able to draw a walk to score the first run of the frame, while keeping the bases jammed. After a fly out, Justin Bohn drew another walk which resulted in another Jupiter run as the bases stayed loaded for Dean with only one out. Dean was then able to clean up the bases with a double deep down the left-field line that extended Jupiter's lead to 8-1 through four innings.
The Manatees added their second and final run in the fifth inning with the help of a one-out triple from Clint Coulter. After the triple, Ratterree was able to collect the RBI with a double to the power alley in right-center field. The Manatees finished with seven hits in the loss, while Ratterree had the only multi-hit game going 2 for 4 with a run and RBI.
The Sharks were able to cap their 10-run scoring efforts in the seventh when they placed their final two runs on the board. Riggins started the inning with a double then moved to third on a wild pitch. A single from Roberts then allowed Riggins to cross the dish for the second time of the night. Vigil was then able to notch the final RBI of the night with a single straight up the middle.
At the plate, Jupiter was led by Dean and Munoz, who both finished with three hits each. Dean added a run scored and four RBIs, while Munoz finished a home run shy of the cycle with a run scored and two RBIs. Roberts and Flynn were also able to chip in two hits each for the Hammerheads. Roberts added two runs scored and a RBI as well. Flynn also scored a run and drove in one as well.
Drew Steckenrider (1-3) earned his first victory with the Hammerheads on Thursday. Steckenrider allowed just two runs, only one earned, on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts in his five innings pitched. Reliever Ben Meyer pitched three innings without allowing a hit while walking one and fanning one. C.J. Robinson pitched a perfect ninth inning to finish the game for the Hammerheads. Brandon Woodruff (1-5) was the losing pitcher for Brevard County.
The Jupiter Hammerheads and Brevard County Manatees will return to Roger Dean Stadium on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. four game two of this four-game series. To purchase tickets, please call (561) 630-1828 or visit RogerDeanStadium.com. Also follow the Jupiter Hammerheads on Facebook and Twitter (@GoHammerheads) for updates and news around the ballpark.