Owen Pryor needed 104 pitches, nine innings and exactly zero runs. The Mudhens ace scattered four hits, walked one and struck out nine as Northfield blanked the Mighty Falcons 4–0 on Tuesday night — the club's first complete-game shutout in three seasons.
The Falcons never got a runner past second base. Pryor worked both sides of the plate with a sinking fastball and buried the changeup whenever the count got deep, getting fourteen swinging strikes. Catcher Sam Whitaker called, by his own count, "maybe six shakes all night."
Just enough offense
The Mudhens scored in three different innings without an extra-base hit: a first-inning squeeze bunt, a fourth-inning fielder's choice and a two-run single from Marcus Webb in the seventh that finally let the crowd breathe. Small ball, played clean — three double plays turned behind Pryor in support.
"When your guy is dealing like that, your job is simple: catch it, throw it, don't get in the way. The infield was perfect tonight." — Ray Delgado, head coach
The race tightens
The win pulls the Mudhens within a game of first place heading into the weekend set with the Iron Horses. Friday's first pitch is 7:05 PM at Whitaker Field, with post-game fireworks scheduled if the skies cooperate.
Reserve seats for the weekend series now — the grandstand sold out the last two Friday dates.
