The Y-D Red Sox lost to the Orleans Firebirds on Friday, 5-4.
Derek Schaefer took the mound for Y-D, making his second start of the summer. The right-hander had appeared in six games prior to Friday’s contest, entering with a 4.76 ERA and 1.53 WHIP.
Schaefer delivered his best outing of the season, dominating the Firebirds' offense with 4 2/3 hitless innings. He recorded four strikeouts — three of them swinging — and allowed just two walks, lowering his season WHIP to 1.29.
Luke Pettitte took the mound for Orleans, coming off a sophomore season at Dallas Baptist in which he posted a 10.3 K/9. He continued that high-strikeout trend against Y-D, racking up seven punchouts over just four innings of work. Pettitte entered the game having allowed five home runs in six appearances, and the Y-D lineup added to that total, continuing his struggles with the longball.
Third baseman Jack Bell got the scoring started in the third inning, launching his first home run of the summer to right field. After a single from Dowd, Jack Arcamone (Georgia) crushed a two-run blast in his Y-D debut, capping off a three-run frame.
Bell drew a walk in the fifth, and Dowd followed with a double to extend Y-D’s lead to four. Dowd finished the night with two hits, driving in one run and scoring another.
Robbie Lavey (George Washington) ripped his fifth double of the season down the left field line, and a double from Dawson Bryce (Charlotte) brought in a second run for Orleans. Anthony Potestio (UC San Diego) added a third run with a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the eighth, Cashel Dugger (UCLA) delivered a two-run double to give Orleans the lead. He finished the night with two hits, driving in two of the Firebirds’ five runs.
Despite the loss, Y-D remains atop the East Division with 32 points on the season.
