WERRIBEE Giants were left frustrated by an extra-inning collapse that resulted in a 2-0 loss to the Upwey-Ferntree Gully Tigers in the Baseball Victoria Summer League division 1 at President's Park on Saturday.
With scores locked at 0-0 for nine innings, it all unravelled for the Giants in the 10th when they coughed up two walks and committed two inexplicable errors to give the Tigers victory.
"It all just happened at the wrong time," Giants coach Earl Byrne said.
"It was those errors in the end that cost us."
This was the one that got away for the Giants.
They had set the game up perfectly with starting pitching Dustin Northcott, who gave up just three hits and struck out seven batters, in command for eight innings.
The conditions suited the pitching staffs of both teams as they held the batters scoreless for the duration of the regular nine innings. "The wind was blowing an absolute gale and both sides struggled to hit," Byrne said.
"It was tough all day."
The Giants had five hits going into the 10th.
Catcher Oliver Box had two hits to make it five in two outings.
"He's been on fire," Byrne said.
"He got three hits last week and two this week.
"I think his good form has got to do with the hard work he's doing in the gym.
"He's one of our main guys in the top of the order and one of the keys to us winning or losing."
Daniel Wilkie, Wade Balzer and Northcott all picked up a hit.
Trouble was, the Giants failed to convert their base runners into runs.
With all the missed opportunities on both sides – each team had five hits for the game – it was going to be a raft of errors that would decide the game and those were committed by the Giants off late pitching from Chris Webb.
"His first inning was three up and three down," Byrne said.
"His last inning, there should've been a catch that was dropped, a ball was thrown away and two walks didn't help."
With no time to dwell on the 10th inning disaster, the Giants had to saddle up for a meeting with Geelong last night at President's Park after the Weekly deadline before a trip to Essendon on Sunday.
Summer League
Firsts: Upwey-Ferntree Gully 2 Werribee 0
Seconds: Upwey-Ferntree Gully 16 Werribee 0
Thirds: Upwey-Ferntree Gully 16 Werribee 2.
Fourths: Upwey-Ferntree Gully 24 Werribee 4.
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