SwampBats prevail in roller coaster affair with Vermont

KEENE, NH - After a night at Sanford ended in the fourth with a suspended game, the Keene SwampBats returned home to host the Vermont Mountaineers in a contest that would end up as the longest game without delays so far in 2025. Keene took the win 15-10, while Vermont made eight errors in a game that lasted four hours and thirty-one minutes.

RHP John Malone (Samford) made his second start of the summer, but got off to a slow start, eventually being replaced by LHP James Lordi (UCF) after recording one out. Lordi was effective, going two and two thirds innings of scoreless ball, while setting down three on strikes. LHP Coen Evrard (Louisville), RHP Anthony Cordero (Jacksonville), and RHP Jake Hooker (Xavier) would only manage to combine for two innings, before Cheshire County's very own righty flamethrower Ben Dean (Duke) came in to pitch the final four innings, facing one more batter than the minimum, and earning his fourth win of the summer season.

Runners left on were a theme for the SwampBats, as they would end the game leaving 17 runners aboard, while Vermont stranded seven of their own runners. The Bats scored five in the first, capitalizing off of walks and hit by pitches, before falling behind in the middle innings, before 1B Chandler Tuupo (Charleston Southern) gave the Bats the lead again in the bottom of the eighth, capping off a night in which he went three-for-six, with three runs batted in and two strikeouts. 

2B Ty Mainolfi also added to the offensive barrage for Keene, as he contributed three runs driven in during a perfect five-for-five effort from the dish, reaching base all seven times he appeared at the plate. It seemed as if the Mountaineers would have full control after the middle frames, as the game stood at 9-7 through six. The SwampBats, in a fashion they are so familiar with, made a late stage comeback and took home the win in front of their home fans to extend their lead over the north division of the NECBL. 

Keene improves to 19-9 and will return to action Thursday, July 10th in a modified doubleheader against the Sanford Mainers, with Tuesday's (July 8th) contest being resumed in the bottom of the fourth, and the regularly scheduled game being played as a seven-inning contest. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.