Australian Baseball League

SYDNEY, 26 January - The Brisbane Bandits celebrated Australia Day by beating the Sydney Blue Sox 4-2 in the third game of their four game Round 13 series. The win kept Brisbane's playoff hopes alive in the 2012-2013 Australian Baseball League season brought to you by 'Be the Influence: Tackling Binge Drinking'.

Brisbane (22-22) sent out James Schult (3-2, 2.95) to face Chris Oxspring (4-1, 2.85) of Sydney on the mound in the pivotal game of the series.

The Bandits jumped on top in the fourth inning when C. J. Beatty blasted a homer well over the right field fence with Cody Clark on base. David Sutherland and Brad Dutton then singled for the Bandits scoring on Logan Wade's double to right putting Brisbane in front 4-0 through four innings.

Schult kept the Blue Sox scoreless through seven innings before giving way to James Albury. Sydney pounced on the new pitcher with hits from Zach Penprase, Mitch Denning and Geoff Klein resulting in two runs. Justin Erasmus relieved Albury, putting out the fire to preserve the 4-2 Bandit lead after eight innings.

Erasmus retired the Blue Sox in the final inning to finish off the win for Brisbane and keep their playoff hopes alive.

David Sutherland (2 hits), Logan Wade (double, 2 RBI) and C. J. Beatty (HR, 2 RBI) provided the brunt of the Bandit hitting in the win. Sydney batters were held to five hits for the game.

James Schult won yet another Saturday game for the Bandits, striking out four and giving up only two hits in seven innings pitched. Justin Erasmus picked up the save.

The teams meet again on Sunday afternoon with everything on the line for the Brisbane Bandits playoff wise. First pitch is set for 11:30 am Queensland time.