The Melbourne Aces got their final home series for the 2012/13 season off to the perfect start, holding on to defeat the Adelaide Bite 3-2.
Melbourne would look towards John Hussey to start on the mound, with Hussey repaying manager Phil Dale back in spades as he pitched a superb game, ending up in the winners column.
Hussey would complete 7 innings and finish with 5 strike outs, 1 run, 6 hits and ERA of 2.77.
It was the superb work from Hussey which allowed Melbourne to get the early runs, which would ultimately prove to be decisive in the end result.
A flying start for the home side would see Brad Harman hit a double to centre, with Justin Huber up to bat and Harman in a scoring position, the early signs were positive for the home side.
Huber would connect and launch a Zachary Fuesser pitch above the centre field wall, to give the Aces an early 2-0 lead. Fuesser, who would also have a solid nights pitching for the Bite would eventually give up all three Aces runs.
In the top of the fifth inning Adelaide would look to make their move, and chip away at the slender 2-0 Aces advantage. Adam Kam would get a whirling left field hit and advance around the bases, scoring from an infield hit.
The charge from the Bite would be short-lived, as an in-form Carlo Testa walked to the plate at the bottom of the sixth.
Testa hit a lead-off bomb to centre to give the Aces a 3-1 lead, a lead they wouldn’t surrender for the remainder of the game.
Melbourne were in their groove, they looked to have finally found the form which had deserted them during the early part of the season.
Getting all areas of their game firing at the same time has been a stumbling block this season, something which Testa says is pleasing to finally have a good rhythm going through out the roster.
“Yeah it’s definitely good; we know it’s been there the whole time. We either had the pitching going or not hitting or vice versa and defence. It feels good to be playing as a team, we couldn’t be happier in the dugout. Our spirits are high.”
A double play from the Aces would be a decisive point in the game, as Adelaide looked to rally in the eighth.
Melbourne would get the two outs needed to end the Bite inning, with men on second and first the Bite looked to make a late run.
As had been the case for the night, Melbourne’s defensive efforts would come to the forefront once again.
Melbourne would get a late scare in the top of the ninth inning though, as fan favourite Travis Blackley came on to close the game, with Adelaide Bite centre fielder Quincy Latimore having other ideas, as he dispatched Blackley to left field to ensure a nervous finish for the home fans.
Blackley would eventually close out the game with a strike and give the Aces a 3-2 win, kick starting the final homestand of the season in positive fashion.
Having the ability to close out the game was also pleasing for Aces manager Phil Dale, who praised the work of the bullpen led by the in-form John Hussey.
“That’s having quality guys out of the bullpen. Hussey is quality, he is a quality starter. But I was stretching some of these starters, Blackley as a reliever, because we were short on pitchers earlier on.
“Having the quality we have now, we are definitely going to win games when we are ahead.”
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