Australian Baseball League

MELBOURNE - The Adelaide Bite won their first game of the season in impressive fashion as they shut out the Melbourne Aces 4-0 on Saturday evening. After being heartbroken in the previous game in a walk-off loss to their Victorian counterparts Friday, the South Australians were able to hold on for the victory in game two of the three-game series.

The Bite got the bulk of their scoring in the top of the third inning. After reaching 3rd base on an error by Aces third baseman Darryl George, Mathew Smith plated the Bite's first run on an RBI single by catcher Chris Adamson. After an Angus Roeger single and a double steal by the two Bite baserunners, Ben Lodge singled to right field to score the pair, giving the Bite a commanding 3-0 lead early.

The Bite would add their fourth and final run in the eighth when Smith had a bases load walk, scoring American import Justin Howard. On the next play, Adamson grounded into an inning-ending double play stalling the Bite rally, but the team headed into the final frame with the commanding 4-0 lead.

The real story for Adelaide was their pitching. After having a disappointing outing in his ABL debut last Thursday verus Perth, lefty import Zac Fuesser pitched extremely well. He held the Aces to only 4 hits over 6 innings while striking out 5 with only 1 walk. Adelaide legend Darren Fidge followed up Fuesser's perfomance with 2 shutout innings including a pair of strikeouts. Finishing the game for the Bite was import Andrew Kittredge, who retried the Aces in order on only 9 pitches to end the game.

Melbourne managed only 5 hits all day off of the three Bite pitchers and no Ace collected more than 1 hit. Japanese import Hirotaka Koishi started for Melbourne, but only lasted 3 innings as he gave up the Bite's first 3 runs on 3 hits. Fuesser finished the game strong for the away team, as he struck out two of his final three hitters in the bottom of the 6th.

The win brings the Bite record to 1-4 on the young season, while the Aces drop to 1-1. The teams conclude their series Sunday in Melbourne, as Paul Mildren will start for the Bite. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35pm Adelaide time.