Nachmanoff Powers Aces Past Braves 7-2

(Editor’s note: This story was originally posted by the Alexandria Aces on their Web site.)

In the midst of a two-game skid, the Aces played host to the Herndon Braves tonight at Frank Mann Field. The Aces were confident going into tonight’s game with the ace of the staff Gabe Mosser (Shippensburg) taking the mound with a record of 2-0.

Mosser started throwing three consecutive innings with no trouble on the mound as the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third. The Aces then put up five runs with two outs; highlighted by Malcolm Nachmanoff’s (Stony Brook) two-run homerun. The Aces managed to put five runners on in a row with two outs in the inning to make the score 5-0 after three innings of play.

Mosser ran into a little trouble in the fourth as a leadoff single and double put runners on second and third. Mosser struck out Alan Mochabee to get the first out of the inning, before walking the next batter to load the bases with one out. Mosser then recorded another strikeout and a fly out to end the inning and keep the lead at 5-0.

The Aces used this momentum to continue the scoring as newest ace Mike Marcinko (Shippensburg) leadoff with a double to get a rally started. College teammate Jake Kennedy then doubled Marcinko in to push the lead to 6-0. Kennedy came around to score on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning and scored the final run of the game for the Aces.

Mosser surrendered a run in the fifth inning, but finished his outing after six innings only allowing one run on six hits while striking out five. Jacob Craver (UNC Charlotte) surrendered an unearned run after an error in the seventh inning as the lead slipped to 7-2. Closer Joe Smidt (Nebraska-Kearney) came on in the eighth inning to get some work in after three days off, and pitched a scoreless inning. Griffin Harms (Wayne St) pitched the ninth 1-2-3 to finish the game and seal the victory.

Player Of The Game

Tonight’s player of the game is Malcolm Nachmanoff. Nachmanoff hit a clutch two out two run homerun in the bottom of the third to give the Aces the lead and never look back. For the game he went 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Over his last four games he is hitting at a .400 clip with five extra base hits and four RBI.

The Aces stay home tomorrow to conclude their three game home stand against the Gaithersburg Giants in a rescheduled game at Frank Mann at 7 PM.

Can’t make it to the game? See the schedule here.