The Total Skills Tropics were one strike away from forcing extra innings Monday night before the Philly Bandits Red delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the sixth.
With the game tied at 4-4, Aidan Zakarewicz lined a run-scoring single to lift the Bandits to a 5-4 victory in a tightly contested Philadelphia Select League matchup.
The Tropics appeared to seize control early. After two scoreless innings, they broke through in the third when Lydon delivered a two-run single to give Total Skills a 2-0 advantage. The Tropics eventually built a four-run lead behind a productive offense that collected eight hits on the night.
But the Bandits steadily chipped away.
JP Diguiseppe ignited the comeback in the fifth inning with an RBI double, while a pair of wild pitches helped Philadelphia erase the deficit and knot the game at 4-4.
That set the stage for the sixth. After the Bandits put traffic on the bases, Zakarewicz came through with the game-winning hit to center field, scoring the go-ahead run and sending Philadelphia to the victory.
Colin Lydon paced the Tropics' offense, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs. He singled twice and doubled, accounting for nearly half of Total Skills' hits. The Tropics also received a solid effort from starter A. Gustitos, who worked five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out six.
Philly Bandits collected 10 hits in the win. Pat White and Jacob Greer each finished with two hits, while Zakarewicz and Diguiseppe each drove in a run. Brian Klumpp also contributed an RBI.
Brett Barrett earned the complete-game victory for the Bandits, scattering eight hits while striking out 10 over seven innings. Zakarewicz added a scoreless inning of relief during the comeback effort.
The Tropics return to action Tuesday against the Fightin Quakers, while the Bandits travel to face ASSA Futures Collegiate Team on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, for four innings Monday night, Philly Bandits Black matched Rake pitch for pitch.
The game was tied entering the fifth inning.
Then Rake's offense finally found the breakthrough it had been searching for.
Matt Gonglik delivered a two-run single in the top of the fifth, Joe Lifsted followed with a sacrifice fly, and Rake Baseball pulled away for an 8-3 victory.
Rake grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when a run scored on a balk, but Bandits Black answered in the third. Alex Myers launched a solo home run to left field, knotting the game at 1-1 and providing a spark for the home side.
The tie held until the fifth when Rake capitalized on its opportunities. Gonglik's two-run single broke the deadlock before Lifsted's sacrifice fly stretched the advantage to three runs. Rake continued to add on late, turning a close contest into a comfortable victory.
Jimmy Murray kept the Bandits in the game early, allowing just one unearned run on two hits across four innings while striking out three. Rake starter Lucas Kimbrough was equally effective, surrendering one run on two hits over three innings while recording four strikeouts. Chase Hamilton and Jackson Archibald combined to help close out the win in relief.
Gonglik paced the Rake offense with three RBIs, while leadoff hitter Bobby Hansen collected two hits and helped set the tone throughout the evening. Pat Kilgus reached base repeatedly, drawing three walks as Rake showed patience at the plate and finished with eight walks overall.
Myers led Bandits Black offensively, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI from the No. 7 spot in the lineup.
Other Action
ASSA Futures 9, Fightin Quakers 1
