By Scott Roblin

Mavericks capitalize on Giants errors, take Sunday matinee 7-4

Jun 9, 2019 | 7:35 PM

FORT McMURRAY, AB – Hits came few and far between for the Medicine Hat Mavericks, but they capitalized on their chances to end a six-game road swing on a high note Sunday.

Facing off against Fort McMurray for the fourth consecutive game, the Mavericks were able to turn eight Giants errors into offence with a 7-4 win to split the series up north.

Trailing 1-0 in the third inning after a Peyton Crispin RBI single, Medicine Hat took their first lead of the afternoon following an error by Giants catcher Richard Ortiz to cash in two runs.

Fort McMurray’s mistakes continued into the top of the fifth, with another error charged to Ortiz that saw Reed Odland cross home plate for the second time.

Shortly after Odland’s run, Austin Sojka connected on a single to bring Freddy Walker home from third base to make it a 4-1 game for the Mavericks.

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That deficit was closed to just a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning though, with Giants second baseman Brody McGrath grounding into a 5-3 putout that saw Eric Meyer score a run for Fort McMurray.

The Giants were able to complete the comeback out of the seventh inning stretch, first with a sacrifice-fly from McGrath and later an RBI single courtesy of Cam Sanderson to tie the matinee contest at 4-4.

Momentum swung back towards the Mavericks in the top of the ninth however, with an error from Giants pitcher Tucker Sorenson that allowed John Velasco to score the go-ahead run.

Another home side error by Fort McMurray brought Russell Strilchuck home for Medicine Hat, before a Sojka fly-out to left field would seal the win with a Nolan Rattai run.

Despite picking up the two points, the Mavericks were outhit 6-4 by the Giants.

Central Michigan starter Garrett Nicholson went six innings for Medicine Hat and was handed a no-decision after allowing two earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

Hunter Cooper was credited with the win in his two innings of relief work, while John Rains picked up his second save of the season.

At the plate, Sojka was the lone Mavericks batter to register more than a single hit and ended his road trip with a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs.

Going 4-2 over their season-long road trip to Edmonton and Fort McMurray, the Mavericks will be back at Athletic Park on Tuesday at 7:05 pm for the rubber match against the Giants.

Mavericks players will be wearing specialized hockey themed jerseys for World U17 Minor Hockey Night, with free admission being granted to youth wearing a hockey jersey.