By Joshua Koch
Holyoke Blue Sox Media Director

Lynn, MA – Another stellar pitching performance is exactly what the Holyoke Blue Sox got of Ben Mount on Wednesday as they defeated the defending NECBL Champion North Shore Navigators for the second time this season.

Mount improved to 4-0 on the season with his performance going seven innings, allowing only one run on five hits, no walks and struck out eight batters as well. This marks the third time this season Mount has recorded more than five strikeouts in a single outing bringing his total on the season to 34 strikeouts overall.

The victory could not come without the help of the bats, and the Blue Sox got to North Shore starting pitcher Dan Slania, who got the loss, in the second inning.

Following a groundout by Alex Sherrod to begin the second inning, an error by the shortstop allowed Justin Ringo to reach base safely which would prove to be costly.

With men on the corners following a single by Paul McConkey, Kris Richards laid down a sacrifice bunt down the first base line driving in Ringo making it 1-0 Holyoke.

The Blue Sox (16-10) were not done as in the third inning following back-to-back singles by Trey Mancini and Tom Murphy, Slania threw consecutive wild pitches allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Mancini would score on the second wild pitch making it 2-0 Blue Sox.

Holyoke would tack on another run in the fourth inning as Matt Tenaglia rips a RBI double into the gap in right-center field driving in Richards, who walked earlier in the inning, making it 3-0 Blue Sox.

The Navigators (13-13) would get their lone run of the ballgame in the sixth inning when Eric Jagielo scored from third base on a Conner Mach groundout to second base. This cut into the Blue Sox lead making it 3-1.

Holyoke would tack on two more runs on in the eighth and ninth inning off RBI singles from Sam Eberle and Mancini making it 5-1 which would be the final score.

Chris O’Hare came into the game and shut the door on the Navigators nailing down the save and the victory for Holyoke.

The Blue Sox are back in action against the Sanford Mainers at 6:30 p.m. on Thiursday at Mackenzie Stadium.