Walk-off homerun lifts Doubledays past Lake Monsters

AUBURN, N.Y. - Left Fielder Mike McQuillan smashed a two-run homerun in the bottom of the tenth, to lift the Auburn Doubledays (22-14) past the Vermont Lake Monsters (18-19), 8-7, on Wednesday night at Falcon Park. It is the sixth time this summer that the Doubledays have won in walk-off fashion.

The homerun was McQuillan's first in a Doubledays uniform, and erased a one-run deficit which Auburn was facing heading into the bottom of the tenth. In the top of the inning DH Miguel Marte was issued a leadoff walk. He was then replaced on the base paths by Dayton Alexander, who was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a single to left by LF Austin Booker.

The game went into extra-innings because the Lake Monsters were able to tie the game in the top of the ninth. Down 6-5, 2B Chris Bostick leadoff the inning with a double, and was then advanced to third thanks to a sacrifice bunt from CF Brett Vertigan. First baseman Jacob Tanis drove Bostick home on a ground ball single to right. The inning unfolded exactly the same way as the bottom of the eighth for the Doubledays. Third baseman Kayyan Norfork leadoff with a double (part of a four-hit night for Norfork), and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from SS James Brooks. Norfork scored the go-ahead run on a single to right by McQuillan, breaking the 5-5 tie.

Auburn had been up 5-0 early. In the second inning the seven, eight, nine, and one batters in the Doubledays lineup all reached base consecutive thanks to a walk, single, hit batsman, and another walk. That put one run across the plate, and then with the bases load and two outs DH Estarlin Martinez delivered a bases clearing double to right. Auburn added its fifth run an inning later on an RBI single by Norfork.

The Lake Monsters got their first five runs in the fifth. They sent eight batters to the plate in the inning, and were helped out by a fielding error from Norfork that allowed the first run to score. The next three runs were driven in by back-to-back doubles, first from RF John Wooten, followed by catcher Bruce Maxwell. A sacrifice fly to center from SS Wilfredo Solano drove in the fifth and final run of the frame.

Despite allowing Vermont to score in the top of the tenth, LHP Elliott Waterman (2-0) earned the win for Auburn. Doubledays starter RHP David Fischer went four innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits, walking two and striking out one. RHP Logan Chitwood (3-1) got charged with the blown save and the loss for Vermont.

The Doubledays continue their three-game series with the Lake Monsters on Thursday, July 26. Auburn will send LHP Nick Lee (1-0) to the mound for his fifth start of the year. He will square off against RHP Andres Avila (0-3) for Vermont. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm. All Thursdays are $1.00 Thursdays at Falcon Park, with Budweiser or Labatt drafts, Hoffman hot dogs, and Coca Cola soft drinks all available for $1.00 each. Tickets available by calling the Doubledays box office at 315-255-2489 or by going online to www.auburndoubledays.com.