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Sports

Darien Baseball Falls to Undefeated Greenwich

Blue Wave hangs tough before dropping 3-2 decision in 10 innings.

The rain cleared in Darien on Tuesday, allowing for a spectacular pitcher's duel between Darien's Ricky Hodges and Greenwich's co-captain Yuta Okazaki.

Unfortunately for Darien, the Blue Wave came out on the short end of a 3-2, 10-inning loss to the undefeated Cardinals.

Andrew Hurn, who replaced Hodges in the eighth inning, gave up the eventual  game-winning single to catcher Joe Marianacci.  

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Ryan Brennan led off the inning with a walk and pinch-runner Louis Pulitano stole second, setting the stage for Marianacci, who had been hitless prior to his at-bat in the 10th.

Darien parents watching the game thought that the Blue Wave (4-5) had won it in the  ninth, but a controversial call at first ended the inning and invalidated what would have been the winning run

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Darien's coaches argued the play, and when the Cardinals (9-0) took the lead in the 10th, one could hear Darien fans proclaiming, "First base umpire 3, Darien 2."

Cardinals first basemen Randall Weisenburger drove in the game's first run in the top of the first, bringing in shortstop Michael Dunster.

Darien struck back in the bottom of the inning, when senior Scott Dempsey grounded into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded, allowing co-captain Matt Anderson to score.

Darien first baseman and co-captain Matt Anderson was pivotal in the Blue Wave's offense early in the game. He scored Darien's first run, then  scored on an error in the third to give the Blue Wave a 2-1 lead.

Greenwich tied it in the fourth, and the pitching took over.

Okazaki struck out 10 while issuing only two walks. Hodges allowed only three hits and fanned six in seven innings.

The Blue Wave threatened in the sixth, getting a runner to third with no outs, but Okazaki struck out the next three hitters to retire the side.

Casey Gaynor tossed two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. In the 1oth, retired Darien's Nos. 2-4 hitters in order to close it out.

Darien, which has lost five in a row, hosts Trinity Catholic on Wednesday. 

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