LYNN — The Lynn Tech baseball team didn’t make it easy on itself in this one.
Tech fell into a 4-run deficit half an inning into Friday’s game against Nashoba Tech but the Tigers chipped away. Dominic Giordano plated Edward Cuevas with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth and Jhoan Ortega shut the door in the top of the seventh, sealing Tech’s 10-9 come-from-behind win at Fraser Field. The win is Tech’s first of the 2019 season.
“The team battled,” Tech coach Rich Germano said. “I’m proud of them. They’ve battled all year. We’ve lost some really close games. I’m proud they fought back. I knew they had it in them.
“All around everybody hit,” Germano said. “It was a great game, all around. We battled back and played great defense at times.”
Tigers starter Kenny Moore gave Tech a solid effort through five innings of work. Kenny Moore settled down after a sour first inning and kept his Tigers within striking distance. He allowed eight hits and struck out seven.
“Kenny pitched phenomenal,” Germano said. “We have a new catcher, Evan Phoeun, and he’s doing well too. He’s a sophomore and he has played very well.”
Ortega followed in relief and pitched two innings. He retired five of Nashoba’s last six batters on strikeouts and allowed just two hits.
Nashoba plated four in the top of the first, making the most of two walks and a Tech error. Giordano (3-for-4, RBI) scored Tech’s first run on a double steal in the bottom of the second. Chris Tejeda (3-for-3) crossed home plate on a fielder’s choice, making it a 4-2 game. Nashoba got one back on a RBI double in the top of the third.
Tech knotted the game at 5-5 in the bottom half of the frame. Evan Phoeun (2-for-4, RBI) raced home on a wild pitch, trimming the deficit to 5-3. A Nashoba error allowed Giordano and Tejeda to cross home plate to even the score.
That’s how it stayed until the bottom of the fourth, when the Tigers grabbed their first lead of the afternoon. Jordanny Diaz (2-for-4, RBI) laced a RBI single and Tech tacked on another on a Vikings error, putting Tech ahead at 7-5. Showing no quit, Nashoba scored two in the top of the fifth to tie the score at 7-7. Tech reclaimed the lead at 9-7 with Jared Moore’s (1-for-4, RBI) bases loaded walk and Phoeun’s sac-fly in the bottom of the frame. Another pair of Vikings runs knotted the game at 9-9 in the top of the sixth. Kenny Moore (1-for-4) doubled to lead the bottom of the sixth. Cuevas entered the game as a pinch-runner and scored on Giordano’s go-ahead RBI single.
“We’ve worked on hitting the last few days,” Germano said. “Keeping our shoulders in and watching the ball come to the bat, watching the ball hit the bat, fundamentals.”
The 10-9 lead was all Ortega needed. Ortega made quick work of the Vikings in the seventh, striking out the side to seal the victory.
The Tigers improved to 1-3 on the season, 1-0 in Commonwealth Athletic Conference play. They’re on the road Monday afternoon (4) at Whittier Tech.
“It feels great to get the first win of the season,” Germano said. “I’m happy for the kids. The first game was a tough loss so this was a good one to get and turn the season around.”
