Mendick's Clutch Single Gives Vermont 3-2 Walkoff Win

MONTPELIER, VT- For most of July, it seemed that the Mountaineers couldn't keep up with the division leading Swamp Bats. That all changed on Thursday night, as Danny Mendick (left) lined a walkoff single into the gap to tie up the series and force a game three.

After the lights in left field went out with a runner on first and nobody out, a 15 minute delay followed. When play resumed, Keene reliever John Birckbeck struck out two straight, but Brad Kaczka, who led off the inning with a walk made his way to third. Kaczka swiped second, and a throwing error by Swamp Bats catcher Tommy Monnot (his third of the game) put him on third with one out.

Mountaineer Kyle Smith, who has been struggling most of the season, went down looking to set the stage for Mendick. A late arrival, Mendick played his first game on July 22nd, and came into last nights game hitting just .000 in the playoffs, 0-8. He came through, however, as he delivered with a no-doubt line drive into the left-center gap that hit the bottom of the fence, below the scoreboard.

Kaczka jogged home and joined the Mountaineers surrounding the unlikely hero. Mendick, from Monroe Community College, hit .250 in the 12 games he played after getting the call from teammate Brad Kazcka, who informed them they needed a guy.

Vermont, who was plagued with injuries and losses, picked up Mendick and it payed off.

Hard throwing Vanderbilt righty Pat Delano came on in relief to earn the win, throwing two innings while allowing just one hit. Delano came in after Central Connecticut University's Cody Brown went seven strong, allowing two earned runs and five hits. Brown took the no decision, as did Keene's starter Paul Covelle.

Covelle, from Franklin Pierce University, threw six innings of two run ball (just one earned) while striking out five. He handed the ball over to Birkbeck, who threw two and two thirds before giving up the walkoff, and took the loss.

An interesting sidenote was that Brown got to face fellow CCU Blue Devil JP Sportman, the star center fielder for the Swamp Bats. In three at bats, Sportman flew out, hit a single and lined into a 5-4 double play.

Meanwhile, Monnot stayed active behind the plate. The Mountaineers continued their agressive baserunning, attempting to steal seven bases, with two being thrown out by Monnot. He didn't catch speedster Chandler Brock, however, who stole another two bases to raise his total in the postseason to five.

Keene built an early 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth on Matt Ford's RBI groundout and Monnots sacrifice fly, but errors got the Mountaineers back in it. With runners on first and third, AJ Ryan took off for second and a bad throw brought in Brock from third. The next at bat, Ryan advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on another Monnot error.

The series is all tied up at one apiece, and the two teams meet for game three tomorrow night in Keene. The Swamp Bats will send their ace, University of Virginia left hander Nathan Kirby. Vermont counters with fellow Virginia lefty David Rosenberger. First pitch at 6:30 at Alumni Field.