Barnums Drop Doubleheader to Western Mass

The Bridgeport Barnums came up on the short side of both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Western Mass Pioneers. 

In game one, Bridgeport fell in extra innings 6-5 after losing a late lead. In game two, Western Mass won a pitcher's duel 2-0. 

The Barnums got on the board in the first inning in game one. 

Yeudy Ramirez walked to lead off the inning. He stole second and the throw went into center field, allowing him to try for third. Then, the throw from center field to third got past the third baseman allowing Ramirez to come in and score. 

In the second inning, Bridgeport added another. 

Will Singewald was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Two batters later, with Singewald at second and one out, Joey D'Elia doubled to left to bring home Singewald. 

Western Mass got on the board in the fourth. 

In the bottom of the fifth, The Barnums got the run back. 

Kieran Shea was hit by a pitch. Pitch runner Pablo Aquino moved to second on a balk and third on a groundout. Then Andrew Fortunato singled to left to bring in Aquino and push the lead to 3-1. 

The Pioneers got one run back in the top of the sixth, before the Barnums once again matched with a run of their own. 

Ramirez walked and Ian Nilsen reached on an error in which Ramirez advanced to third. Next up was John Heitzman who hit a sacrifice fly to right field. That would give Bridgeport a 4-2 lead. 

However, Western Mass would score two runs in the seventh to tie the game. Bridgeport could not score in the bottom half and the game went into extra innings. 

In the top half of the seventh, the Pioneers put up two runs, one of which being the automatic runner on second base in extra innings. That gave Western Mass a 6-4 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth. 

With one out and a runner at third, Ramirez singled to short right field to score Sebastian Sampieri to cut the deficit to 6-5. That's the way the game would finish as the Barnums could not push the tying run across. 

Zach Barry threw the ball well for the Barnums, as he allowed just two runs, one of which was earned, on four hits while striking out seven over six innings. 

In game two, Bridgeport had opportunities but could not push any runs across the plate, despite 10 baserunners. The Barnums had only four hits, but also four walks, a hit batter, and one person reaching on an error. 

On the mound for Bridgeport, Matt Cummings, picked up the hard-luck loss, pitching a complete game, scattering just seven hits, and one earned run.