Jackfish Use Big Eighth Inning to Defeat Maple Leafs

WELLAND - The one that got away.

The Welland Jackfish defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 15-9 on Thursday evening to improve to 14-13 on the season.

With the loss, the Maple Leafs fall to 14-14.

Welland reliever Robert Mackie recorded the win, tossing 1.2 innings while allowing zero earned runs on one hit and one base on balls.

Jackfish second Nolan Pettipiece led the way at the plate, going two-for-five with five RBI.

Toronto reliever Adam Marra took the loss, allowing five earned runs on five hits in 0.2 innings pitched.

TORONTO: 9-17-2

WELLAND: 15-17-1

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: With the bases loaded and no one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jackfish centre fielder Eric Marriot got hit by a pitch from Marra to give the Jackfish a 10-9 lead.

The Jackfish would tack on five more runs in the inning to blow the game wide open.

BY THE NUMBERS...

4. A four-hit game for Maple Leafs' centre fielder Connor Lewis tonight. Having a down-season to his standards, if Lewis can get hot heading into the playoffs, that would be a significant development for the Maple Leafs' lineup.

4 (again): With tonight's loss, the Leafs dropped to fourth place in the standings.

If the playoffs began tonight, they would face the Barrie Baycats in round one.

Wouldn't that be interesting?

9. Typically, when your offence scores nine runs with your ace on the mound, you are going to win more often than not. Not so for the Maple Leafs tonight, who got just four innings from ace Justin Cicatello in his first start of the season.

A rare off-night for Cicatello, who has proven himself to be a high-end starter in the IBL since his arrival in 2013.

NEXT UP: The Maple Leafs travel to Hamilton tomorrow night to battle the Hamilton Cardinals.

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Photo: @LaRussaGastro