Box Score

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Holyoke scored eight runs in the top of the third inning, and that early advantage proved to be the difference, as North Adams fell, 12-8, and suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in the 2012 season on a Father’s Day showdown at Joe Wolfe Field.

With the score even at 1-1 in the top of the third, the Blue Sox (4-5) exploded for eight runs on six hits and benefitted from three costly errors committed by the SteepleCats (6-3), who allowed season highs in both runs (12) and errors (4).

Holyoke starter Drew Duncan (2-0) was effective over six innings to take the win, striking out four and wakling four while yielding five runs – three earned – on nine hits. North Adams starter Dillon McNamara (0-2) lasted only 2 1/3 frames while allowing seven runs – four earned – on eight hits with one strikeout and no walks.

Both teams combined for 25 hits, with Holyoke holding a 13-12 edge in that category. Jeff Roy (URI), Esteban Tresgallo (Miami), Sheehan Planas-Arteaga (Barry) and Bryan Soloman (Eastern Kentucky) also posted two hits for the home side, while Holyoke’s Max Pentecost led the visitors with a 3-for-5 showing at the dish with three runs scored.

Trailing by a 9-1 margin, North Adams posted two runs in the bottom of the third but left the bases loaded for the first of two times on the game. Overall, the SteepleCats stranded a season-high 16 base runners, as the home side failed to capitalize on numerous scoring chances.

After three scoreless innings, Holyoke edged back ahead by a seven-run advantage with a run in the seventh but the SteepleCats cut it to 10-5 with two scores in the bottom of the inning. The Blue Sox promptly responded with two more runs in the eighth but the ‘Cats matched that output with two runs in the home half of the inning.

Finally, after Will Klausing (UT-Pan American) worked an unexpected inning of scoreless relief in the top of the, North Adams clawed to within four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but a fielder’s choice ended the contest after nearly three and a half hours.

After an off day Monday, the SteepleCats head to Montpelier, Vt., to take on the Mountaineers in a two-game makeup doubleheader starting at 5:30 p.m.