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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2017 Media Contact: Rich Haskell rich@cttigers.com TIGERS BUILD BIG EARLY LEAD, HANG ON TO TOP SPINNERS, 6-5 Martinez 3-run double in fourth keys Connecticut victory NORWICH, CT- Hector Martinez cleared the bases with a shot off the left field wall in the bottom of the third inning, and the Connecticut Tigers held off a furious Lowell rally to defeat the Spinners 6-5 in the opener of a three-game series at Dodd Stadium Sunday. Connecticut jumped on Lowell starter Yorvin Pantoja (0-4) with two outs in the third. Jordan Pearce started the rally with a base hit up the middle, followed by a Junnell Ledezma soft liner to center. After Colby Bortles walked to load the bases, Reynaldo Rivera was hit by a pitch to force home the first run. Martinez then lined a double to left field to empty the bases and give the Tigers a 4-0 lead. Connecticut added single tallies in the fifth on a Ledezma double and in the sixth on an Elys Escobar base hit. Down 6-0 after six, Lowell sent nine batters to the plate in the seventh, scoring five runs. But with one out and the lead down to one run, Victor Muesis got Michael Osinski to pop out, then struck out Frankie Rios to end the inning. Will Vest and Drew Carlton pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth and ninth, respectively, with Carlton picking up his first save. The Tigers and Spinners resume their three-game set at Dodd Stadium Monday night at 7:05, with Jose Vasquez getting the call on the mound for Connecticut. The game will be broadcast on 1310 WICH and online at www.cttigers.com