The Union baseball team got through its first three games – all at home – with pretty good pitching.
The bats will need to pick up in order for the Farmers to fill the win column on a more consistent basis.
Union fell to 1-2 Saturday, April 7 after dropping a 4-1 decision to Westfield in its first Union County Conference-Watchung Division game.
Union opened against Middlesex County foes Middlesex and Spotswood, beating Middlesex 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh and falling to Spotswood 3-2 in extra innings when Spotswood snapped a 2-2 tie with a run in the top of the ninth.
Against Westfield, senior right hander Brian Bedlivy went the distance, allowing two earned runs in his seven innings complete. He did not walk a batter.
Westfield scored twice in the second to take the lead for good and then added two more insurance runs in the seventh. Westfield scored its final two runs on a two-run hit on a 1-2 count with two outs in the seventh.
Union loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and scored its only run on the game’s final play, which included the final out at home plate. Sophomore center fielder Andrew Sanborn was credited with an RBI on his ground ball that brought home Union’s lone run.
Union fifth-year head coach Angel Navarrete was very pleased with Bedlivy’s first start.
“He was great today,” Navarrete said. “He works fast.”
Bedlivy threw only 87 pitches, which is more than economical for a seven-inning performance.
“He pitched to contact,” Navarrete said. “Unfortunately we didn’t make some of the plays behind him.”
Sanborn scored the game’s only run on a botched squeeze in Union’s triumph over Middlesex. Sophomore Nick Saraceno hit an opposite field single to right to put runners on first and third with one out.
Junior right hander Zach Fernandez tossed an eight-hitter, striking out eight and walking one, to earn the complete game mound victory.
Fernandez also threw seven complete in Union’s setback to Spotswood. He struck out 14 and walked one while allowing one earned run on eight hits. Sanborn pitched the final two innings.
Union tied the game at 2-2 with its two runs coming in the bottom of the fourth.
Union’s first road game is now scheduled to be played on Tuesday, April 10 at Cranford at 4 p.m.
Union was originally scheduled to play at Westfield on Saturday, April 7, but the game was moved to Union because its field was in better condition to play. That means the teams will now be scheduled to play at Westfield on Thursday, May 3 at 4 p.m.