GREENWELL Point’s Tim Atherton and his Brisbane Bandits have succumbed to their first series loss of the 2018/19 Australian Baseball League season at the weekend, falling to new boys Auckland.
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The three-game series, which was interrupted by the wet weather, started on Friday – with the Bandits falling 5-4 to the hosts Tuatara.
The Tuatara prevailed at McLeod Park, scoring the winning run on a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth after the Bandits tied the contest in the top half of the inning – to secure their first ever ABL win, after being swept 4-nil by Perth in the opening round.
After all action was postponed on Saturday, due to rain, both games two and three were played on Sunday.
In game two, which was shortened to a seven innings outing, Tuatara starting pitcher Kyle Glogoski was on form as the Brisbane bats struggled to get anything going.
Glogoski would end up throwing for five innings for zero runs, giving up one hit and tallying six strikeouts – setting up the memorable 4-nil win.
Despite the series already being decided, the Bandits hit back in game three, winning 4-2 after an extra innings was needed to split the two sides – with Danny De La Calle and Wade Dutton both scoring in extra inning.
The opening innings breezed by as Bandits starting pitcher Tim Atherton and Tuatara starter Atsuki Taneichi took control of the game early, with neither side allowing a run after two frames.
Throughout the match, Auckland struggled with Atherton's pitching as he sent Eric Jenkins and Lamb-Hunt back to the dugout, before Max Brown's hit to left field was pulled in by Daniel Nilsson – which proved pivotal in the Bandits win, helping them avoid a series sweep.
After two weeks on the road, Atherton’s reigning ABL champions will return home this weekend to OneHub Stadium, where they will host the Sydney Blue Sox – with game one at 6pm Friday (AEST).
