Melbourne and Upwey played out a 5-5 tie on Tuesday night in fading light. The Demons tied it up late after surrendering the lead in an exciting mid-week tussle against the reigning premiers.
The Demons bounced out of the gate with Bronson Neave singling on the first pitch, Devin Pickett moving him over on a sacrifice, Sayer walking and McMahon doubling on the first pitch, scoring 2 runs in quick fashion.
Melbourne tacked on another run in the 2nd inning, Pickett knocking in a run, and again in the third when Ethan Scalzo added one on a double for a 4-0 lead.
Upwey however fought back despite Kurtis Smith holding sway on the mound, restricting Upwey to weak contact for most of the night, a sac fly and bloop to right field narrowed the lead to 2 in the fifth innings.
In the fading light in the top of the sixth innings, a HPB, a couple of walks, and a loaded bases roller to centerfield ended Smith’s night, despite holding the Upwey offense well in a tough night for pitching in the incessant rain. Upwey went ahead 6-5 on another drive to right, needing some heroics from Melbourne in the complete dark to get a share of the points.
Kynan Jones led off the bottom of the sixth with the best hit ball of the night, a towering double falling just short of tying the game up, a wild pitch and a sacrifice by Al Hondo was enough to tie the game but that was all for the Demons
The offense was spread around, Jones and McMahon had doubles, singles to Aron, Pickett, Caminiti, Neave and Scalzo. Smith went 5.2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 5 runs with 3 strikeouts.
Melbourne will look for redemption against Moorabbin on Sunday at Surrey Park, after dominating their last encounter except for their 1 innings lapse.