North Adams dropped their first game of the season today, losing 4-2 to the Sanford Mainers at Joe Wolfe Field.

The SteepleCats were not short on chances throughout the game, however, it was their inability to come through with runners in scoring position that felled them, combined with some costly errors - the two runs that separated the two teams both scored on plays involving errors made by SteepleCat defenders.

It was the Mainers who opened the scoring, plating a run in the opening frame off of North Adams starter Garret Gates (RPI). Second baseman Brian Connolly (Rhode Island) reached on a fielder's choice and an error, and would come around to score on a double by shortstop Albert de la Rosa (Maine). North Adams would tie it up in the second inning, with Matt Collela (Lafayette) scoring on a throwing error made after an Owen Arias (CCSU) single to right field.

Sanford would take the lead once again in the top of the third inning, putting together a two-run rally with two outs. de la Rosa would double and then score on a single by Troy Carpenter (Maine), who would himself come around to put a run on the board on a single by Nater Wachter (Connecticut). Ryan Kolben (Massachusetts) would then ground into a force out to end the inning, but the damage had already been done.

The two sides would then trade scoreless frames until the bottom of the sixth inning, when the SteepleCats’ Sean Stephenson (Iona) doubled and was brought home by some sloppy defense from the Mainers on a groundball hit by Colella to first baseman Brooks Perez (Duke). His throw to the pitcher, Brennan Rumpf (Maine) was errant, allowing Colella to reach, and when Rumpf attempted to throw out Stephenson attempting to advance to third, his throw got away, allowing Stephenson to come home.

The Mainers would respond in the top of the 8th, taking advantage of another miscue by the North Adams defense. Brooks Perez doubled off of Jakob Foster (Portal), working into his second inning of the night, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Later in the at-bat, Sam Miller (Duke) would hit a fly ball to center field, and the throw home made it through both the cutoff man and catcher, allowing Perez to score. That would be Sanford’s fourth and final run of the night, and that total would be enough for them to hold on for a win.

Despite the loss, there were certainly some positives to take away for the SteepleCats. Front of mind would be the fact that the pitching staff was able to work their way out of several jams, displaying an impressive ability to execute pitches while under pressure.

North Adams will look to get their first win of the season tomorrow at Montpelier Recreation Field, home of the Vermont Mountaineers, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST before returning home the following day to take on the Mystic Schooners, also at 6:30 p.m.