The Philly Bandits Red erased a four-run deficit and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to rally past the Philly Mummers, 5-4, on Thursday.
For much of the evening, the Mummers appeared firmly in control.
They capitalized on command issues early, drawing a parade of walks and hit batters while building a 4-0 lead through the first three innings. Three runs crossed in the second inning without the benefit of a hit as Jude Hamilton and James Quici were both hit by pitches and Joe Beitler walked with the bases loaded. Matt Carr added a sacrifice fly in the third to extend the advantage.
The Bandits finally broke through in the fourth inning.
After trimming into the deficit, they pulled even at 4-4 when Pat White was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home the tying run.
The decisive moment came two innings later. With the game tied in the bottom of the sixth, the Bandits manufactured the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice off the bat of JP Diguiseppe, completing the comeback and delivering their first lead of the evening.
The turnaround was made possible by a dominant relief appearance from Owen Wheeler, who stabilized the game after a rocky start. Wheeler worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out five. Starter Austin Ludwig lasted just 1 1/3 innings but escaped with a no-decision after surrendering three runs while battling through seven walks.
The Bandits collected seven hits in the victory. Ryan Price and Brian Klumpp each finished with two hits, while Brett Barrett drove in a pair of runs from the middle of the lineup.
The Mummers managed just two hits but consistently pressured the Bandits on the bases. Jude Hamilton and Bill Zenmeyer recorded the team's hits, while Zenmeyer stole three bases as part of a five-steal effort. Kaden Pasternak drew three walks, helping the Mummers finish with 11 free passes.
Joseph Beitler started for the Mummers and allowed three runs over three innings, striking out two.
Despite controlling the game early and taking advantage of the Bandits' wildness, the Mummers could not hold the lead as the Bandits chipped away before finally breaking through in the sixth to complete the 5-4 comeback victory.
In other action, a five-run fourth inning turned a tight game into a runaway as the Philly Bandits Black College pulled away for a 9-2 victory over the ASSA Futures Collegiate Team on Thursday.
For the first three innings, the game followed a familiar back-and-forth rhythm.
ASSA struck first in the opening inning when Drew Brown delivered an RBI single to give his club an early 1-0 lead. The Bandits answered in the second, drawing even when Jimmy Murray worked a bases-loaded walk.
The visitors reclaimed the lead in the fourth. Angus Warlick lined an RBI double to put ASSA back in front, 2-1, and briefly appeared to shift momentum in their favor.
The advantage lasted only minutes.
The Bandits erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fourth, sending 10 hitters to the plate and capitalizing on timely hits and patient at-bats. Gavin Grasso and Murray delivered RBI singles, while Kenny Lutz and Owen McLean each drew run-scoring walks as the Bandits transformed a one-run deficit into a 6-2 lead.
The inning proved to be the decisive turning point.
From there, Nolan Kolanko took control on the mound. The right-hander scattered eight hits across six innings, allowing two runs while striking out six and issuing no walks. Chase Canney followed with a scoreless inning of relief to help close out the victory.
The Bandits finished with nine hits and continued to pressure ASSA throughout the night by consistently reaching base. They drew nine walks and turned those opportunities into a crooked number in the middle innings.
Grasso and Canney paced the offense with two hits apiece, while Murray and Grasso each drove in two runs. Additional offensive support came from Kenny Lutz, Joey Markey, Frankie Decembrino and Will Henderson, helping the Bandits maintain traffic on the bases all evening.
Murray, McLean and Henderson each drew two walks as part of a disciplined offensive effort. The Bandits also turned a double play defensively.
Brown led ASSA with two hits and an RBI, while Warlick contributed an RBI double. Despite collecting eight hits, ASSA struggled to string together offense after the fourth inning and stranded several opportunities against Kolanko and the Bandits' pitching staff. The visitors turned two double plays in the field.
The victory improved the Bandits' momentum heading into Monday's rematch, when the two clubs will meet again in Bensalem.
