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MORRISON ALLOWS ONE HIT IN OCEANIC SHUTOUT
STRUGGLING OCEANIC #2 COMES CLOSE TO HISTORY IN CAREER-BEST PERFORMANCE

HARTFORD, CONN. (June 6, 1868) – There was not much offense during the contest between Quinnipiac and Oceanic in Charter Oak Park on Saturday, but there was still plenty of tension as Oceanic P Frank Morrison nearly made history:

Morrison began Saturday as the subject of mighty struggles so far in 1868, entering the game with a 1-9 record and a 4.72 ERA. What Morrison proceeded to do against Quinnipiac was easily the best performance of his career.

The first four innings went by without a Quinnipiac base runner before 3B Luchino Tucci was hit by a Morrison pitch with one out in the top of the 5th. The game still scoreless, the crowd of 1,700 hoped that Morrison’s no-hit bid would progress knowing that it would only succeed if the home team scored runs of their own.

Quinnipiac entered the top of the 7th inning hitless, but with one out OF William Conley cast aside Morrison’s attempt at making history with a single to center field. The visitors would have one further baserunner during the game thanks to another hit batsman in the top of the eighth. The Oceanic defense was brilliant, going the full nine innings without making a single fielding error to let anyone on base.

The outcome was still in doubt in the bottom of the 8th. With two out Morrison hit a double, OF Walter Banks singled him in, Banks stole second base before he was singled in by 3B William Spangler, and Spangler stole second before he was singled in by OF John Gaynor. That made the score 3-0, and Morrison had an easy 9th to preserve the one-hitter and give Oceanic the victory.