Baseball goes to extras for first win of season

The Whalers baseball team waited three games and then

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Eric Lowell huddles with his teammates earlier this season. On Thursday, the Whalers earned their first win of the season with an 11-7 win against Tri-County. The team is 1-4 and next plays at home on Friday against Diman at 3 p.m. some to pick up their first win of the spring. After a 10-5 loss to Blue Hills on Wednesday dropped the team to 0-3, the local nine responded on Friday with an extra innings 11-7 victory against Tri-County at the Cougars' home park in Franklin.

Nantucket trailed for much of the game, eventually falling behind the Cougars 6-4 heading into the sixth inning of the seven inning regulation game. Freshman Adam Fasci scored the tying run in the sixth, after stealing third base with two outs and crossing home on an errant throw by Tri-County's catcher on the pick-off attempt.

"We've been struggling at the plate, so we figured that we could lay back and hope to win the game, or do something to win the game," said Art Crowley of the decision to green light Fasci's stolen base, which had he been thrown out, would have ended the Whalers' mini-rally.

In the eighth inning, Fasci played hero again, driving in the game-winning run on a two-RBI single to center field. The team scored three more runs in the eighth by playing "small ball" with walks, stolen bases, bunting and sacrifice hits. Fasci's two RBIs tied Adam Spencer for the team's game high.

Freshman Andriquez Farmer started for the Whalers, going three innings before giving way to junior Geddes Paulsen. Paulsen, who had been battling an illness prior to the game, threw five innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out four. Bringing Paulsen on to start the fourth gave the Whalers an advantage heading into extra innings.

"When we went into extras, Geddes was only in his fourth inning, but their pitcher was cooked," said Crowley. "He had thrown a lot of pitches, hit a couple of guys and given up a lot of walks. [Tri-County] didn't have much after that."

The Whalers played Saturday against Westport, losing to the Cape-siders 5-0 at Mashpee. Kodi Boughtman threw a complete game, giving up four earned runs

on eight hits to go with four strikeouts and seven walks. Fasci came off the bench in the fifth to snap Westport starter Scott Borges' nohitter and account for the only Whaler hit on the afternoon.

The Whalers' defense - led by freshman third baseman Chris Welch - helped off-set a slow day at the plate.

"He had an unbelievable game for us defensively," said Crowley. "He's a freshman and he probably doesn't weigh 90 pounds soaking wet, but he made several big plays for us - backhand, forehand. He probably had five put-outs."

The Whalers play at home on Friday against Diman at 3 p.m.

I