ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (May 4, 2023) -- The Pirates hung five defensive zeroes in Thursday's non-conference tilt at Rocky River Field. But the Maroon & White were undone by a big, six-run fourth inning by the Wildcats, as Rocky River fell to Keystone 7-6.

River scored six runs of its own in the bottom of the third inning when the Double-R sent 11 men to the plate. The Pirates garnered three walks and two singles in the frame. They benefited from a Keystone error and a hit-by-pitch. But the lynchpin plate appearance in the bat-around barrage was an RBI double by senior second baseman Gavin O'Brien.

The outburst gave River a 6-1 lead on what was a sun-splashed, 55-degree afternoon at the Bus Yard. In the top of the next inning, the Wildcats flipped the script.

Keystone cobbled together four hits, three walks, and a Pirate error in plating six runs of their own. The error for the home nine was a costly one, coming with two outs and leading to three unearned runs.

The rest of the game was a bagel exchange between the two bullpens, and the Wildcats 7-6 lead through three-and-a-half made it all the way to the finish line.

For the game Rocky River (5-11) outhit Keystone 7-6. Both teams were tagged with two errors.

River's mound work was divvied up among Henry Tovissi (two shutout innings pitched), Jack Petrus (1-1/3 shutout IP), and Rees Heigle (3-2/3 IP). O'Brien (2-for-4, three runs batted in, stolen base) and Josh Mommers (2-for-3, walk, SB) each had two hits in the game.

The Thursday afternoon action marked River's first of the week after a couple rainouts. The Pirates are scheduled to play a Great Lakes Conference game at Elyria Catholic Friday.

by Skip Snow

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