B-Mets 5, Akron 1

For Immediate Release

B-Mets Win 5-1 in Nightcap, Fall 7-6 in Suspended Opener

The Binghamton Mets managed a split with the Akron Aeros Friday night in cold weather at NYSEG Stadium, falling 7-6 in the completion of the season opener, which was suspended to rain, and prevailing 5-1 in convincing fashion. Righty Dylan Owen starred for the B-Mets in the regularly-scheduled game with five, no-hit innings to earn his and Binghamton’s first win of 2010.

Owen, who was spot-starting for the injured Brad Holt, got off to an ominous start by issuing a pair of walks in the first. However, he settled down and retired the seven batters in order before walking Nick Weglarz at the outset of the fourth inning. He struck out six and walked three over his scoreless outing.

Centerfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis got the scoring B-Mets started in the first with a clean single off Akron (1-1) starter Scott Barnes. The lefty picked over to first and got Nieuwenhuis leaving early, however first baseman Beau Mills throw to second was late, giving Nieuwenhuis a stolen base. He proceeded to advance to third on a passed ball and scored on Nick Evans’ sacrifice fly to center, making the score 1-0.

Binghamton’s (1-1) big inning came in the third. Three runs came home off Barnes as Evans once again plated a run with a bases-loaded fielder’s choice to short to open the scoring in the frame. The lefty then induced a sacrifice flyout from Duda, which permitted Nieuwenhuis to score. Marshall Hubbard drove in the final run of the inning with a single up the center of the diamond that chased Evans home, giving the B-Mets a comfortable 4-0 lead.

The B-Mets final run came in the fourth inning. Shortstop Jose Coronado, who had doubled and scored earlier off Barnes, started the inning with a clean single to right-center. A wild pitch from the southpaw moved Coronado into scoring position from where Nieuwenhuis drove him in with a bloop single into center.

Nieuwenhuis enjoyed a 3-4 performance with two runs scored and an RBI and Coronado went 2-3 with a double and two runs scored to lead the offense.

In the completion of the suspended game, the B-Mets made a valiant comeback after entering the day down 7-2 in the middle of the fifth. Binghamton quickly struck for a run in their end of the fifth against reliever Erik Stiller. Second baseman Hector Pellot singled to right and Nieuwenhuis followed with a double to put both runners in scoring position. Evans followed with a groundout to short that plated Pellot, to get within four

Catcher Shawn Riggans got the B-Mets two runs closer with a double off Stiller in the sixth that all but knocked him out of the game. Riggans went 2-4 with a pair of doubles in the loss.

D.J Wabick got Binghamton within a run in the ninth with an run-scoring groundout to second that scored Niuewenhuis. However, with runners at the corners and two outs, righty Neil Wagner got Lutz to foulout to first to end the ballgame and secure the save.