Exeter's Nolan Daley makes an over-the-shoulder catch during Friday's game against Hudson. For more photos, go to the Photo Album.
NASHUA – One big inning wasn’t enough.
Hudson Post 48 sent 12 men to plate in one inning for the second straight game, scoring seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie Exeter Post 32.
But Exeter came through with a run in the bottom of the inning to pull out an 8-7 win in the first game of the American Legion baseball state tournament Friday morning at Holman Stadium.
Post 32 will now face the winner of Post 79 and Jutras, which was scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Holman. Hudson will return at 9 a.m. to face the loser of that game in the double-elimination tournament.
After scoring six of 12 batters in the first inning of Tuesday’s one-game playoff against Bedford, Hudson’s offense was shut down for most of the day by Exeter starter Taylor Denson. In the first eight innings, Denson limited Post 48 to three hits and two walks while striking out eight.
At one point, Denson retired 14 Hudson batters in a row and only allowed two runners to get past first. Both those came in the third inning, when Post 48 loaded the bases with one out, thanks to two walks. Denson rebounded to Korey Lelievre and Adam Hagman – Hudson’s No. 3 and 4 hitters – to popup and strike out, respectively.
“Fantastic,” Exeter coach Matt Gladu said. “That’s a tribute to Taylor Denson. That’s the way he pitches. We teasingly call him Jamie Moyer because he’s the oldest guy on the team and he’s a lefty and he doesn’t throw hard and he pitches. I’m proud of him.”
Hudson coach Derek Lee was impressed with Denson’s performance, but felt his guys could have done more.
“Their pitcher kept us off balance with his off-speed pitches,” Lee said. “He did a great job. You’ve got to play for nine innings, not one, but one was almost enough. We didn’t get things started off right defensively. If we had played defense, we give ourselves a shot.”
Hudson shortstop Derek Bratton makes a throw to first base.
Exeter got two unearned runs in the first inning, and then added a few here and there to take a 7-0 lead into the final frame.
It was Lelievre and Hagman who started the rally in the ninth. Lelievre led off with a single and went to second on a passed ball. Exeter catcher Brandon Dill’s throw to second went into center field and Lelievre went to third.
Hagman followed with a towering home run to left field that chased Denson and put Hudson on the board, 7-2. Ben Callahan came on in relief and faced four batters, allowing three singles and a walk. All four eventually came around to score.
Nolan Daley took a turn on the mound and gave up a two-run single to Mitch Brun, cutting the lead to 7-5 with still no one out. Brian Lessard followed by hitting into a fielder’s choice, bringing in another run to make it 7-6.
After a flyout brought the second out, Lelievre tripled to deep center, scoring Lessard to tie the game. Daley intentionally walked Hagman and then got out of the inning by forcing Pete Radziewicz to ground out.
“They have a veteran team and I knew they weren’t going to give up,” Gladu said. “We didn’t let up, they clawed their way back into it. I wasn’t surprised.
“We needed one run. It was a tie game, we needed one run and we were the home team. The kids have been doing it all year.”
Exeter’s Dan Rashid led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single, was sacrificed to second before two walks – one intentional – loaded the bases with one out. Lou Vigras followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Rashid and ending the game.
Hagman finished the game with two hits and two RBIs, all of which came in the ninth inning. Brun also drove in two runs, but suffered the loss on the mound. He pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing four runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Exeter pitcher Taylor Denson delivers.
John Coughlin started the game, going five innings and giving up three runs – one earned – on four hits and a walk with one strikeout.
“Our starting pitcher had a sore arm, he gave us all he could and he did an effective job,” Lee said. “They found the holes, they didn’t hit it that hard. Give credit to the guys for not laying down. These guys never do. We’ve come back so many times this season.”