Salem hosted the Brookdale Community College for the second, and final, game in the series against the Jersey Blues. The Mighty Oaks lost game one, 12-8, but came back to split the series with Brookdale after completing a comeback from an 11-6 deficit to defeat the Jersey Blues, 13-12.
Brookdale and Salem battled back and forth offensively throughout all nine innings leading to six lead changes and both teams surpassing 15 hits in the game. The first runs came in the second inning where both teams scored one a piece. The Mighty Oaks' first run came from Ryan Dipper (Woodbury Heights, NJ / Gateway HS) who capitilzed off of an error by the third basement to get on base and then was walked around the bases as the next three batters were walked or hit by a pitch.
The scoring continued in the third as the Mighty Oaks start their at-bats down, 3-1, but they respond with five runs of their own. Phil Sedalis (Wenonah, NJ / Deptford Township HS) started off the inning with a lead-off double and was brought in by Caleb Ritchie (Clarksboro, NJ / Kingsway HS) on the very next at-bat. Dakota Rowen (Venice, FL / McIntosh HS) walked with the bases loaded to bring in Ritchie before Tucker Dorrity (Ocala, Fl / Fayette County HS) doubles to left center field to bring in two more runs for the Mighty Oaks. Rowen scores the final run of the inning for the Mighty Oaks by capitalizing off of a bad pick-off attempt by the pitcher.
Brookdale puts up eight runs in the fourth inning giving them an 11-6 lead over Salem, but they would not do much more scoring the remainder of the game. The Mighty Oaks respond with two consecutive three-run innings in the fifth and sixth to retake the lead by one run (12-11). Brookdale tied the game in the top of the eighth but Salem's offense came out on top as Dorrity scores his second run of the game to put it away for the Mighty Oaks, 13-12.
Sean Broadhurst (Deptford, NJ / Deptford Township HS) started on the mound for the Mighty Oaks pitching 3.2 innings before being relieved by Jake Herner (Mount Royal, NJ / Kingsway HS) and Raymond Knappenberger (Pennsville, NJ / Pennsville Memorial High School). Knappenberger earned his first collegiate win after giving up only two hits through the final three innings of play.
The Mighty Oaks will next be in action today, May 1, at noon when they travel to Middlesex County College to take on the Blue Colts in a doubleheader. Fans can keep up with the Mighty Oaks at sccmightyoaks.com. Be sure to follow Salem Athletics on Twitter @sccmightyoaks for updates and news on all Salem athletics.
