T.J. Abounader is at home on the mound at Murnane Field in Utica and today the big righthander showed just how comfortable he can be as he pitched a complete game shutout for his Rome Thunderbolts in an 8-0 defeat of the Utica Brewers in an Eastern Collegiate Baseball League game at Murnane Field.
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The Bolts win came in the first half of a Sunday double dip in Utica.
It was a great day to play two on a Sunny Sunday afternoon. MHTS was happy to include the ECBL matchup as part of our Summer Fun Tour.
Thanks to the Bolts for extending the invitation. We always enjoy the quality of play in this league.
Tune to to SportsWatch on WIBX this week as coach Sean Caveny and members of the team visit Fred and Gene for a Thunderbolts update.
Rome had entered the game on a roll having won six of its last eight games and ended the day not only beating their rivals from Utica but tacking on two more wins to make it eight of the last ten.
(Rome Thunderbolts pitcher TJ Abounader (27) delivers a 6th inning pitch.)
Speaking of six of eight the Brew Crew came to Rome on the same type of roll. That roll came to a halt with the twin killing they would suffer before the day was done.
Abounader, a graduate of Herkimer County Community College and former Whitesboro Warrior is next headed to Division II Tusculum College.
The hard throwing Thunderbolt allowed no runs over seven innings, struck out three and walked four in the winning effort.
This one was scoreless until the top of the third inning. Then, after consecutive bunts by Kyle Pettoruto and Tyler Heck, Shawn Murphy singled home Kyle Pettoruto to make it 1-0 Rome Thunderbolts after three innings.
The top of the fifth saw Rome tack on three more runs as the Bolts started to grab control as Tyler Heck, John Murphy and John Carbone all came around to score to make it 4-0 Thunderbolts after three.
(Utica's Carols Garcia (23) slides into second base as Rome second baseman Tyler Heck (16) looks to get the force out. Garcia was safe on the play.)
The Bolts tallied three more times in the top of the sixth on consecutive singles by Kyle Pettoruto, Mike Mascari and John Murphy to increase Rome's lead to 7-0.
Rome's eighth and final run came in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Dave Boisture, which scored Kyle Pettoruto to make it 8-0 on favor of Rome, which is the way this on would end.
With the win Rome improves to 18-4. The Thunderbolts also defeated the Brewers in the second half of a twinbill at Murnane.
The nightcap was closer as Rome nipped their route 49 rivals 5-4. The Bolts next take on the Syracuse Salt Cats on the road Wednesday night.
(Utica Brewers 2nd baseman Keith Herrig (2) leaps over a sliding Kyle Pettoruto (11) during a 4th inning double play try.)
The two losses by the Brewers drops their record to 18-11 overall. Up next for Utica is a Wednesday trip to Albany to take on the Albany Athletics.
Game One: Rome Thunderbolts 8 Utica Brewers 0
Game Two: Rome Thunderbolts 5 Utica Brewers 4
Box Score
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Rome 0 0 1 0 3 3 1 8 10 2
Utica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3
