Marshall Grand Slam Caps Late Surge as Bats Roll

KEENE, N.H. – Jackson Marshall crushed a 403-foot grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the cherry on top as the Keene SwampBats scored all of their runs in three big offensive innings to end the night as they went on to a 10-1 blowout of the North Adams SteepleCats in a rescheduled contest on Monday night at Alumni Field.

The Bats (10-7-1) trailed 1-0 in the fifth on Evan Meier's RBI base hit that dribbled into the right field grass but finally got the offense going in their half of the sixth – and once it began, it did not stop.  After managing just one hit over the first five innings, hitting machine Jackson Smith (Cincinnati) led off with a double before Marshall (Connecticut) was plunked to put two on.  Michael O'Brien (transfer portal) then beat out a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out before Chris Polemeni (Connecticut) cashed in with a two-run single to center to put the Bats ahead 2-1.  A balk brought home another, and although the home team stranded three, they kept going from there, going up 5-1 in the seventh when Marshall was plunked again, O'Brien and Polemeni walked, and Griffin Enis (Virginia) looped a base hit that found its way into center to plate two more.  Then came Marshall's grand slam – 103 mph off the bat – deep into the Keene night over the centerfield trees in the eighth to make it 9-1 after Nico Senese (Georgia Southern) and Collin Anderson (Duke) each singled ahead of Smith's walk.

Struggling North Adams (4-16) got a strong start from David Johnson (Middle Georgia State), who fired four scoreless, one-hit innings while walking three and striking out three.  But their bullpen did not hold the lead for long, as Jakob Foster (0-2) took the loss, allowing three runs in one inning.  The SteepleCats combined to walk 11 as a staff while also allowing eight hits.

Meanwhile, the Bats' five arms allowed just five hits (four singles) and had 12 strikeouts.  Threats from the visitors were few and far between, though they did have two in the middle of the contest that changed the complexion of the game.  In the fifth, after Meier had given his team a lead, Chris Diaz was plunked to load the bases with one out, but Rocco Calise (Eckerd) whiffed Nelphie Lopez and got Jake Butler to bounce into a fielder's choice to prevent further damage.  Down 3-1, the SteepleCats put two on after two quick outs as Diaz beat an infield single and moved to third on two wild pitches before Lopez walked to put the tying run on base, but Tanner Beliveau struck out Butler on four pitches.

The Bats kept pulling away from there, with familiar face Sean Finn (a 2024 Bat recently signed) ultimately getting credited with the win in his season debut, striking out two in a scoreless sixth.  Beliveau fanned four over his two innings.

Keene hosts North Adams for the second straight night tomorrow (Tuesday, June 30) on Pink in the Park night with a 6:35 first pitch scheduled.  Fans can stream the action on ESPN+.  The Bats are also home Wednesday against North Shore and Friday against Sanford for their annual Independence Eve game.