Moorabbin came away with the first win in the 2020/21 VSBL Division 2 Grand Final Series, meaning the Panthers need just one win over the weekend to secure their first premiership since the 2015/16 season, while Newport will need to take the next two to win it all.
Moorabbin Panthers 4 v Newport Rams 2
Newport opened the scoring with an RBI double from Matt Lawman on this first pitch of his at-bat.
Moorabbin wasn't deterred, knotting the game up at two in the bottom of the first inning with a Mitch Barr single.
It was in the third when Moorabbin pulled away for good with Nick Bertucci's solo home run.
Mike McGillvray earned the victory on the pitcher's mound for Moorabbin with eight solid innings, giving up just six hits and two runs with a pair of strikeouts. Chris Nielsen threw one inning in relief and recorded the last three outs to earn the save as Moorabbin left Melbourne Ballpark victorious.
David Asp took the loss, surrendering four runs on seven hits across five innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
Mason Wray went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Newport in hits as the team had seven hits overall.
Moorabbin racked up 11 hits including multiple from Kieran Lewis and Matt Hardie. Stewart Mathieson had the most chances in the field with 13 as the team made no errors on the night.
Game 2 is Saturday 27 March at 1:00pm and Game 3 will be Sunday if required.