Blue Sox Split Doubleheader With Bandits, Win Wild Game 1 Before Being Shut Out in Game 2

BRISBANE, Australia — Sydney erupted for 18 runs in the opener before Brisbane’s pitching responded with a combined five-hit shutout in game two, as the teams split Saturday’s doubleheader at Viticon Stadium.

Game 1: Blue Sox 18, Bandits 5

Sydney sent 13 batters to the plate in a nine-run first inning and never looked back, pounding out 18 hits and four home runs to take the doubleheader opener.

Pablo Nunez and Jaylin Rae each logged three hits, while Briley Knight, Eric Rataczak, Joshua Nati and Harry Fullerton all homered. Rataczak drove in four runs, including a two-out three-run shot in the third. Knight and Fullerton each added three RBIs, and Nati matched them with a three-run blast of his own.

Sydney scored multiple runs in each of the first three innings, building an 18–1 lead before Brisbane answered late.

Right-hander Jagger Beck threw 3 1/3 hitless innings but allowed three runs on six walks. Josh Bishopp steadied the game over 3 2/3 innings, striking out nine despite surrendering a pair of home runs.

For Brisbane, Liam MacDonald delivered the highlight with a pinch-hit grand slam in the fourth. Jake Burns added a solo homer in the seventh. The Bandits were held to three hits, and starter Hayate Nakagawa recorded just one out while giving up eight hits and nine runs.

Sydney turned three double plays and went 11-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Game 2: Bandits 1, Blue Sox 0

Brisbane flipped the script in the suspended Game 4, riding dominant pitching and a clutch RBI from Dermot Fritsch to secure a 1–0 win and split the doubleheader.

Four Bandits pitchers combined to face just 33 batters, with Jon Kennedy and Sam Holland each delivering three scoreless innings to open the game. Luke Krkovski, Matt Beattie and Tyler Jeans closed out the final three innings, with Jeans stranding two inherited runners in the eighth.

Brisbane broke through in the bottom of the third when Fritsch lined a two-out RBI single to score Rixon Wingrove, who had doubled earlier in the inning. Fritsch finished his night at the plate with two singles and collected his 100th career hit in the ABL, becoming the 12th Bandit in the Modern ABL era to achieve that recognition.

Sydney’s staff was strong as well. Coen Wynne allowed one run across two innings in his ABL debut, and Ben Ferrer followed with five scoreless frames, giving up just two hits and no walks.

But the Blue Sox offense—and the early fireworks from Game 1—never resurfaced. Sydney managed only five singles, two of them from the bottom of the order, and hit into two double plays. The Blue Sox’ best chance came in the eighth, when they put two on with one out before Jeans induced a groundout and a strikeout to end the threat.

Sydney’s defense turned two double plays and threw out Will Riley at the plate on a strong relay from Nunez.

The Brisbane Bandits travel to Sydney for Round 2 of the ABL season as they will challenge the Blue Sox again for a four game series at Blacktown International Sportspark. Game one is set for Thursday, November 20, 2025 with first pitch set for 5 p.m. Fans can tune in to the ABL Broadcasts on Baseball+.