Sabers Come From Behind To Beat Spartans

By William Dod

The Souhegan Sabers baseball team trailing 4 to 1 going into the top of the seventh ... and came home with an 8 to 4 victory.

Ben Osterholtz was the starting Souhegan pitcher.  He pitched 3 and a third innings, allowed 4 runs on 8 hits, struck out 2 and walked 2.  Eric Howard entered with the bases loaded in the fourth and shut the door, getting out of the fourth inning jam with a strike and a ground out and threw four more innings to pick up the victory in relief.

Eric Howard allowed NO RUNS, scattered 2 hits, struck out 8 and walked three. The outstanding relief performance, highlighted by his first two outs and, after walking the first hitter in the bottom of the eight and hit the second batter struck out the final three Milford batters to shut the Spartans out for 4 and 2/3 innings and the victory.

The Souhegan defense was led by shortstop Tyler Ford, thirdbaseman Robert Graham and Tim Beliveau at first base.

Souhegan tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the second as Terry Dugdale singled, Tyler Ford singled and Terry went to third on a fields choice.  A deep fly ball to center off the bat of Cameron Crook scored Terry Dugdale from third.

The drama started in the seventh inning with one out as Chris Chininis singled, stole second and the stole third ... Robert Graham was hit by a pitch and Robby McCormick walked to load the bases.  Pinch hitter Tyler Hansis doubled to left field (scored Chris Chininis and Robert Graham) and a miscue plated Robby McCormick with the tying run.

Knotted at 4 to 4 in the top of the eighth, Tyler Ford led the inning off with a walk, Tim Beliveau sacrifice bunt resulted in Tyler Ford safe at second and Tim Beliveau on first.  Andrew MacDonald sacrifice bunt was perfect and the bases were loaded.  Eric Howard singled up the middle, plated Tyler Ford and Tim Beliveau and a two run lead.  Chris Chininis's sacrifice bunt loaded the bases ... and back to back sacrifice fly balls from Robert Graham (plated Andrew MacDonald) and Robby McCormick (scoring Eric Howard) gave the Sabers an 8 to 4 lead ... and the pitching of Eric Howard secured the win and the Souhegan record at 5 wins and 4 losses.