Truro Bearcats

Matt Mayo's three-run homer in the top of the eighth gave Truro a game one victory in an exciting kickoff to this year's finals. A fired-up Nial Hughes struck out 16 and walked 11 pitching 8 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Truro took the lead in the top of the first on a Matt Mayo single, the fourth Bearcat hit of the inning. Dartmouth quashed the rally with an inning ending double play. Dartmouth scored twice in the bottom half of the frame aided by Hughes walking the first three batters he faced. Hughes and Dartmouth hurler Trevor Zwaan (2-1) settled down only giving up one run each in the middle frames. A lucky hop in the eithth, which over the past couple of years has gone the Dry's way in their series with Truro, bounced high over the head of Dartmouth short-stop Ryan Doucette with one out. After adding another runner, Mayo hit his second homer of the playoffs to give Truro the 5-3 lead. Truro fans held their breath in the bottom of the nineth when Joe MacPherson dropped a foul pop up with two out and one on. After Doucette walked loading the bases, Kelly Spencer came on to close out the game on a long fly ball to centre field. Game two is set for Friday in Truro. Truro 100 010 030 - 5 11 2 Dartmouth 200 100 000 - 3 5 1 Nial Hughes (3-0), Kelly Spencer (s,2)(9) and Jason Hoyt; Trevor Zwaan (2-1), Jason Bailey (9) and Mark Weeks. HR: Tru - Matt Mayo (2) Tru: Matt Mayo - RBI single, GW three-run Homerun; Kevin Matheson - two singles; Joe MacPherson - three singles; Jason Hoyt - two singles, RBI. Dart: Greg West - two singles, RBI; Darren Hiltz - RBI double