ABL: Stöcklin cruises through six innings

Adelaide Bite  0 – 7  Sydney Blue Sox

In a rain shortened game, the Sydney Blue Sox took on the Adelaide Bite. For the Blue Sox there was much at stake as they could return to .500 with a win and get tied for third place with the Adelaide Bite.

A big third inning gave Sydney a decisive lead. Back-to-back doubles by Jacob Younis and Matthew Smith drove in the first run of the game. Smith could advance to third base on a fielding error by right fielder John Schultz.
After Trent D’Antonio drew a walk and stole second base, Smith scored on a sac fly to center field by Tyler Bortnick. Trent D’Antonio advanced to third on the play. A single by Rhys Hoskin and a double by Joshua Dean drove in two more runs for the 4-0 lead.

In the mean time Jan Stöcklin dominated the Adelaide lineup as he cruised through six innings. Only in the sixth inning, Jan allowed a runner on third base, but with two outs a fly out got him out of the jam. Jan gave up four hits, walked six though and struck out three for the win (W 4-2). Jan lowered his ERA to 4.44.

Eventually the Blue Sox scored three more runs for the final score of 7-0.

Two Blue Sox batted 1.000 today. Jacob Younis went 3 for 3 with a double a triple and three runs scored. Matthew Smith went 1 for 1 with a double and two runs batted in.

Perth Heat  9  –  4  Canberra Cavalry

The Perth Heat flexed its muscles once again vs the Canberra Cavalry. After three innings the Heat had a 8-0 lead. A big second inning put four runs on the board, after they had scored two in the first already. A bases loaded double by Junior Arrojo drove in two runs and put runners in scoring position. The third run was scored on a 6-3 ground out hit by Derek Peterson. A bloop double by Correlle Prime, that just fell behind the infield, drove in the fourth run for Perth.

In the remainder of the game, Perth scored one more run to bring their total at nine.

Canberra on its turn scored two runs in the fourth, one in the seventh and one in the ninth inning.

Tom Bailey pitched five innings for the win in which he gave up two runs on five hits, walked five and struck out six.

Best hitter for Perth was Luke Hughes, who went 3 for 5 with a double, a homerun, an RBI and three runs scored.

Brisbane Bandits  7  –  5  Melbourne Aces

For a long time it looked like the Melbourne Aces would walk away with the win again as they took a 5-4 lead into the eighth inning. But in the eighth inning the defense collapsed.

After William Wu loaded the bases, he was replaced by Troy Marks. Marks’ first offering was hit towards right field for a single that drove in the tying run. A wild pitch by Marks allowed the Bandits to take a one run lead.

In the ninth inning, the Bandits scored an insurance run for the final score of 7-5.

Winning pitcher was Matt Timms, who pitched in the sixth and seventh inning. He gave up one run on three hits, walked two and fanned three.

Andrew Campbell was the best hitter for Brisbane as he went 2 for 4 with an RBI.