Belgian Division One: May 4, Match of The Day
Yesterday, newly promoted Braine Black Rickers took on the Deurne Spartans in Deurne. In the previous match on Saturday, the Black Rickers did not stand a chance as they lost 16 – 3, but in yesterday’s game, the club from Wallonia gave the Deurne Spartans a hard time.
Braine Black Rickers 5 – 3 Deurne Spartans
Already in the first inning, the Black Rickers boldly took the lead. Jhoanderson Freitez led off with a double down the right field line. A groundout by Jayde Thorne moved him over to third base, from where he scored the opening run on a single to right field, hit by Elio Fundora Basnueva.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Deurne Spartans had a good chance to tie the game, as it had runners on first and second with one out, but Jayde Thorne recorded two outs to get out of the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Elio Fundora Basnueva homered to left field with runners on first and second, to give the Black Rickers a four-run lead.
Only in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Deurne Spartans got on the board. Daniel Bustamante, who got on base on a leadoff single, scored when Nick de Vriendt got on base thanks to an error by the first baseman of the Black Rickers.
In the bottom of the eighth, Spartans scored twice when Daniel Bustamante scored from second on a single by Johiner Alfonso Arguizones Ocanto, and the latter scored on a single to right field, hit by Nick de Vriendt.
The Black Rickers had a good shot on blowing the game wide open in the ninth as they loaded the bases with no outs, but, except for one run, the team could not cash in. The sole run in the ninth was scored by Jayde Thorne on a 5-3 groundout by Francisco Peńa Gonzalez.
Jayde Thorne retired the side in the bottom of the ninth for his and the Black Rickers’ first win of the season. In nine innings, Thorne allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks, as he struck out nine.
Viktor Vandervelden took the loss. He lasted six innings, in which he gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks, as he struck out five.
Elio Fundora Basnueva went 4 for 4 against his former club, with four RBI and a run scored.
The Braine Black Rickers now share last place with the Namur Angels. Both teams have a 1-9 record.
Here are the standings after last weekend’s round:
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