By Michael Letendre

It was just a matter of time before the Bristol Eastern baseball squad was going to hop back into the win column.

And that happened on Thursday as the Lancers scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning – getting an excellent pitching from Andrew Lozier in the process – as Eastern defeated Platt, 6-4, in a CCC South confrontation from Clem J. Roy Field in Bristol on Thursday.

The Lancers improved to 3-12 overall with its chances for a state tournament berth still in the mix.

In that same vein, Platt fell to 7-9 as the squad can qualify for the postseason against some other opponent.

Lozier had a brilliant complete game effort on the hill, allowing just three hits – none of which came after the third inning.  

Two of the Lozier’s runs were unearned while he threw just 34 pitches over the final four innings, facing just one batter over the minimum during that stretch.

And then there was deficit Eastern had to overcome.

In the first frame, Platt’s leadoff batter Trent D’Aniello was hit by a pitch and pitcher Ommy Velez doubled to deep left to score the lead runner – making it a 1-0 game. 

Eastern responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to secure a 3-1 push.  

Jaydon Churchill was hit by Velez’s first pitch of the game, Dylan Woodsome then followed with a walk, Lozier singled to right to score Churchill to tie the score at 1-1 – putting runners on first and third.  Lozier later stole second and then with two outs, Tyler Stickels singled to left to score Woodsome and Lozier as Eastern scooped up a 3-1 push.

And then in the top of the third tilt, Platt scored three times to snare a 4-3 edge.  

An infield error put leadoff Zack Baker on, two wild pitches advanced him to third, and a base-on-balls to Tucker Sperry put runners on first and third.  

Baker scored on D’Aniello’s sacrifice fly to chop the deficit to 3-2.

Then a base hit by Matt Merrigan and a run scoring single to center by Velez scored Sperry made it a 3-3 contest.

And Baker scored the go-ahead run when the relay throw from Velez’s single was thrown away as the Panthers scooped up a 4-3 lead.

Eastern trailed by one going into the bottom of the sixth and that all changed after the home squad scored three times to nab a two-run edge.  

Velez, who had pitched shutout ball since the first inning, walked Ben D’Amato and Stickels to start the sixth.  

A bunt attempt was popped up for the first out but Cameron Moore tallied the game-winning hit as he doubled down the right field line – scoring pinch runner Elliot Norris and Stickels – to give the Lancers a 5-4 lead.  

Two Platt infield errors led to one final run as Eastern was leading 6-4 as Lozier was cruising on the hill.

And the Panthers never scored again – falling by two runs as Eastern continues its postseason push.

Eastern will have its hands full on Monday, battling top-ranked East Catholic in a CCC Interdivisional war from Muzzy Field, starting at 3:45 p.m.

CCC South Baseball

BRISTOL EASTERN 6, PLATT 4 

from Clem J. Roy Field, Bristol Eastern 

Platt (7-9) 103 000 0 – 4 3 2

Bristol Eastern (3-12) 300 003 x  – 6 5 2

Battery – Platt: Ommy Velez & Nelson Rondon; Bristol Eastern –  Andrew Lozier & Cameron Moore 

WP: Andrew Lozier (BE); LP: Ommy Velez (P)

Platt Batting

2B – Ommy Velez

3B – None

HR – None

Bristol Eastern Batting

2B – Cameron Moore

3B – None

HR – None

Records: Bristol Eastern 3-12 overall; Platt 7-9