Eight-Run First Inning Propels Titans to Victory

OFFICIAL FRONTIER LEAGUE BOX SCORE

Augusta, NJ - An eight-run top of the first inning helped the Ottawa Titans (39-34) to an 8-4 victory over the Sussex County Miners (39-33) on Wednesday night, winning their fifth in a row.

Facing right-hander Jack Dellinger (loss, 1-2), the Titans sent 12 to the plate and tallied eight runs on seven hits. Jamey Smart and Sicnarf Loopstok each knocked in one to put the Titans up five batters in. Later, Jake Sanford drove home two with a single to centre to extend the lead. With the bases juiced once again, Taylor Wright walked in a run before AJ Wright's sac fly finished off the scoring.

Damon Casetta-Stubbs (win, 5-3) took an inning to settle in, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. Oraj Anu and Gavin Stupienski got the Miners on the board to end a wild first.

After the first, Casetta-Stubbs did not allow another run and earned his ninth quality start of the season. The right-hander has allowed just three runs over his last 25 innings. Casetta-Stubbs retired 16 of the last 18 he faced to win his fifth contest of the season.

Matt Stil and Robbie Hitt combined to allow just two hits over a pair of shutout innings.

The Miners tacked on two runs in the late innings, adding one off Nick MacDonald in the seventh and an unearned run off newcomer Connor Kelly in the eighth.

In the win, Jake Sanford went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Jason Dicochea and Jamey Smart also recorded multi-hit performances, each going 2-for-5. With their fifth win in a row, the Titans tie a season-long win streak set in mid-June.

The Ottawa Titans end a three-game series against the Sussex County Miners at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday night at Skylands Stadium. The Titans return home for a four-game series with a single-admission doubleheader at Ottawa Stadium on Friday starting at 5:00 p.m. All the action can be heard on CKDJ 107.9 and 94,5 UNIK FM and live-streamed on Flo Baseball. For information on 2023 single-game tickets, group outings, and nine-game mini packs, visit the Titans’ official website at www.ottawatitans.com.