River Rats Fall Short in Loss to Winter Haven

Read this article at the FCSL website.

SANFORD, Fla. (June 7, 2011) - The Sanford River Rats tied the game three different times, but could never take a lead before falling 5-4 to the Winter Haven Loggerheads at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium Tuesday night.

"We're just as easily 3-1 as we are 1-3," River Rats Head Coach Steve Piercefield said. "We've lost these three games by a total of five runs. The effort that these guys have put forth has been tremendous."

Sanford (1-3) starting pitcher Taylor Smith (Rollins College) and reliever Adam Albers (Saint Leo) both put forth tremendous effort from the mound. Smith struck out six and walked none in five innings of work.

Albers came in to a bases loaded jam in the sixth and struck out the first two batters he saw to close the inning.

Albers had to relieve Ryan Heinz (George Washington) after Heinz walked two and allowed an RBI single that gave the Loggerheads a 4-3 advantage.

"Ryan's back was a little tight," Piercefield said. "But Adam came in and, like he's done in his last two outings, slammed the door."

Alex Mendez (USF) had an RBI triple for the River Rats' first run followed by a sacrifice bunt from Blake Boyd (Nova Southeastern) to score Mendez for the tie.

Boyd's second RBI, a sacrifice fly to deep right to send Pat Fortunato (Rhode Island) home, came in the fifth and tied the game once again at three.

After Albers slammed the door on the Loggerheads in the sixth, Sanford yet again tied the game with what was nearly a triple from Ian MacGeorge (Embry-Riddle). Kyle Foti (Flagler) scored on MacGeorge's blast, but MacGeorge was called out at third.

Drew Leonard (Millsaps College), pinch running for Garrett Horan (Dickinson College), scored the winning run on a sacrifice bunt from Kevin Clements (Trinity) in the ninth.

Sanford managed to get Johnny Mazur (Florida Tech) to third in the ninth on two passed balls but were unable to capitalize.

"It's frustrating that they're not getting to see the results that they want," Piercefield said. "But this is only going to make us a better team."

Piercefield isn't hitting the panic button, however. "Our goal is to create consistency, so to make big changes doesn't make too much sense."

Sanford travels to Chain of Lakes Park to take on Winter Haven (2-2) Wednesday at 7 p.m.