KEENE, N.H. – (MyKeeneNow) The Keene SwampBats defeated the North Shore Navigators 3-2 on Tuesday behind six and one-third scoreless innings from their bullpen.

The SwampBats took the lead in the top of the second inning on a scorching hot day in Lynn, Massachusetts. With the 84 degree heat sizzling off the artificial turf surface, Alex Calarco (Maryland) doubled home Aaron Graeber (Delaware) to open the scoring. Calarco advanced to third and then scored on a pair of wild pitches. In the bottom of the third, North Shore responded on a walk and a pair of singles to drive Keene starter Charlie Oschell (Virginia) out of the game. Oschell struck out two over two and two-thirds in his summer debut. Against Ben Shenosky (Penn State) the Navigators executed a perfect double steal with runners on the corners. The runner from first (Joe Jaconski’s [Penn State] brother Jesse) took off for second, but intentionally got into a rundown as the tying run dashed home from third.

In the top of the fifth, Alex Alicea (Louisville) was hit by a pitch with one out. Jaconski followed with a single up the middle, and Ripken Reese (Kent State) walked to load the bases. Catcher Josh Kross, a highly touted prospect from Cincinnatti, hit a high popup down the left field line. As the Navigators left fielder charged in, the shortstop hustled toward the bullpen. Only the shortstop could make the play as his momentum took him away from home plate. Alicea alertly tagged up at third and dashed home, beating the throw by a bounce and giving the SwampBats a 3-2 lead. As the sun set and the heat receded, the game morphed into a pitcher’s duel. Shenosky stayed in through the sixth, allowing one hit, no runs, and striking out three. Last week’s NECBL pitcher of the week Jaden Varner (Kent State) came in for the seventh and stranded a runner on third before striking out the first batter of the eighth. His Kent State teammate Jacob Bean worked around a pair of walks to finish the inning. Despite four perfect innings from the North Shore bullpen, the SwampBats carried a one run lead into the bottom of the ninth. With Closer Isaac Williams (Central Florida) having pitched the previous night, Head Coach Shaun McKenna turned to UConn righty Joe Carrea for the high leverage assignment. Carrea justified the decision emphatically, sending the Navs down one-two-three to lock down the team’s second straight win.

Keene (8-4) takes on the Danbury Westerners at home Wednesday evening. The SwampBats will be celebrating Juneteenth and recognizing Navy’s Victor Izquierdo before he departs for naval fleet crews.