Saukees capitalize on new life in seventh, score three times to upend Blue Devils

QUINCY — An overturned call gave the Pittsfield baseball team new life, and the Saukees took advantage of it.

With the game tied and two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Pittsfield’s Justin Pennock was called out at first base after hitting a ground ball to Quincy High School shortstop Blake Bunch. However, first baseman Jansen Lawson’s foot appeared to be off the bag, and after the umpires consulted, Pennock was ruled safe, allowing Luke Saxe to score the go-ahead run and the inning to continue.

Draven Puterbaugh followed with a single to put runners at the corner, and Hayden Gratton singled to drive in another run. An error led to a third run in the inning and enough cushion for the Saukees to score a 5-2 victory Monday at the QHS field.

The Blue Devils tried to mount a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh as Owen Zanger doubled to put two runners in scoring position and Bunch walked to load the bases. An infield popout ended the game.

Quincy (4-6) grabbed an immediate lead, scoring twice in the first inning as Joe Schroeder doubled, Brady Lowe and Zanger both walked, and Bunch followed with a two-run single. The Blue Devils managed just four hits thereafter.

Pittsfield (9-2) tied the game in the fourth on Landon Foster’s sacrifice fly and Saxe’s two-out RBI single. The Saukees had seven hits against two Quincy pitchers — Puterbaugh was 3 for 4 — but took advantage of four errors. Puterbaugh pitched the final two innings in relief of Pennock to earn the victory as he allowed two hits with one strikeout and one walk.

Pennock struck out four, walked five and allowed four hits and two earned runs.

Alex Logan threw the first five innings for Quincy, allowing two unearned runs with four strikeouts and two walks. Kyle Barry took the loss, giving up three hits and three unearned runs over two innings.