Bay of Plenty Steamrollers vs Auckland Aces
These first rounds of playoffs have been reduced to a best-of-5 series this season. Can Auckland provide an upset here, or will it be a third straight final for this 100-win team?
Building on the amazing work of Randolph Vankrimpen, the Bay of Plenty hitters started to deliver in the 7th innings with 2 home runs by Rhys Macdonald and Ciaran Mackay sealing the deal for the Steamrollers. Bay of Plenty go up 1-0.
Karmataman Prithviraj gave up 4 hits and 2 runs in the first three innings but refused to give up anything else for the rest of the game. That let the Bay of Plenty hitters grab the advantage back from the Aces. The Steamrollers go up 2-0, one win away from the New Zealand final!
And it's a sweep! A Baden DeJong double in the 1st lets Auckland scores a run but that's the only time they'll be able to get a run on the board. When Bay of Plenty's lead-off hitter Baden Macleod hits a solo home run with the second pitch, the Steamrollers set the tone for the rest of the game.
Bay of Plenty will be in the New Zealand final for the third straight year.
On Deck: Northland Giants vs Waikato River Bandits