Nate Pirog got all but the final out in a 5-2 Bristol Central baseball win over Bristol Eastern on Wednesday night at Muzzy Field.
The Keene State commit pitched the first 6 ⅔ innings and gave up two runs, both in the fourth inning. The left-hander retired the first nine batters he faced, seven by strikeout. After the fourth inning, Pirog settled in and pitched two outs into the seventh, when he was pulled due to his pitch count. He finished with 12 strikeouts and gave up three hits and three walks. Aiden Lopez garnered the final out for the save.
On offense, Central (8-3) scored once in the top of the first inning, followed by three runs in the second and another run in the third for a 5-0 lead. Oscar Kuzniar drove in the first run with a two-out single in the first. Lopez (RBI) and Anthony Santilli (2 RBIs) had run-scoring doubles in the second. In the third, Kuzniar led off with a single and later scored on a fielder’s choice. Unfortunately for Eastern (4-8), four of the five runs were unearned.
The Lancers did manage to cut the Ram lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Owen Myers (RBI single) and Preston Guarda (RBI double) drove in the Eastern runs in the frame. Central pitchers Pirog and Lopez were able to hold the lead from there for the win.
The Rams and Lancers are scheduled to meet again on Monday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. back at Muzzy.
