The Sanford Mainers defeated the Keene SwampBats for the third time this season on Saturday night by a score of 8-5. Keene is undefeated against the rest of the league.

The SwampBats threatened in the top of the second inning when Jake Koonin (Princeton) smacked a two-out double down the right field line. Wake Forest’s Austin Hawke then walked to put runners on first and second, but the Bats could not score. The Mainers hit a solo home run in the bottom half to take a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, they hit a single to left field with a runner on second and two outs. The runner was sent around third, but Koonin fired a bullet throw home to nail him for the third out. He grinned on his way to the dugout as the whole team congratulated him on the play. The SwampBats loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth on two walks and a double by Louisville’s Alex Alicea, but did not cash in.

SwampBats starter Ryan Van Buren (Maryland) allowed only two hits and one run through four innings but he ran into trouble in the fifth. The Mainers rode five hits and a walk for four more runs to take a 5-0 lead before a pitching change with two outs. In the next half, the SwampBats quickly responded, quieting the home crowd at Goodall Park. Alex Calarco (Maryland) hit a single to right field before Koonin continued his monster day. The Ivy Leaguer drilled his third home run of the season over the left field fence, receiving his second dugout celebration in three innings. Shortly after, the comeback kept going when Florida Atlantic’s Nick Romano singled home Hawke, making it 5-3. The Bats got hits from Bryce Molinaro (Penn State) and Ripken Reese (Kent State) in the seventh inning to put the tying runs in scoring position, but Sanford got out of the jam.

Joe Carrea (Connecticut) struck out four over two and one-third innings without allowing a run, but exited after two walks and an error loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth. All three runs would come home on a passed ball and two singles, and although Joe Jaconski (Penn State) threw a runner out at home, Sanford had already taken an 8-3 lead. In the SwampBats’ final turn at bat, Jaconski singled and Molinaro walked with no one out. After a fielder’s choice and an error scoring Jaconski, Calarco drew another walk and Koonin singled to bring the tying run to the plate. With the SwampBats on the top step of the dugout, Hawke drew an RBI walk and reached base as the tying run. With the game on the line, the Mainers brought in a new pitcher who induced a strikeout and a fielder’s choice to end the game.

Keene (6-3) visits Vermont Sunday evening before a rescheduled home game on Monday.