In another Coastal Division matchup, the Newport Gulls ended a two-game losing streak in a low-scoring 2-1 victory over the Mystic Schooners. Despite not getting a runner on base between the fourth and seventh inning, a strong pitching performance and some late heroics at the plate gave the Gulls just enough to secure the win.
Kade Shatwell (Oklahoma City) made his third start on the mound for the Gulls. While no runs were scored in the first inning, there was a moment of intrigue very early in the game after a pickoff attempt call was overturned by the umpires. While the first base umpire originally ruled the runner to be out, the rest of the crew gathered and determined the ball fell out of the glove of Newport first baseman Matt Ossenfort (Vanderbilt) and the runner was safe. That reversal drew the ire of Newport’s coaching staff as Manager Mike Coombs and Hitting Coach Ted Regan both exited the dugout to have a word with the home plate umpire. Eventually, the umpire had enough and tossed Ted Regan out of the game while Mike Coombs once again came out to defend his fellow coach. A few minutes later, Regan was escorted out and play continued following some early controversy at Cardines Field.
Dan Driscoll was Mystic’s starting pitcher and after a 1-2-3 first inning, allowed a leadoff double from Luke Orbon (St. John’s) to begin the second. Two batters later, Matt Ossenfort also recorded a double to send Orbon home and give Newport the early lead.
It didn’t take long for the Schooners to respond as Scotty Young belted a pitch to right field and over the fence for a solo home run in the third to tie it up. That turned out to be Kade Shatwell’s only true blemish of the night. The Oklahoma native didn’t allow another run in six innings of work, not walking any batters and recording six strikeouts. On the other side, Dan Driscoll had a similarly impressive performance on the hill. Also going six innings, the southpaw only allowed three hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Both teams went to the bullpen in the seventh and the pitchers’ duel continued. Ty Starke (Louisville) entered for Newport and cruised through two innings in his fourth appearance of the summer. The lefty retired six of seven batters faced and five of his six outs recorded were via the strikeout.
Tate Evans came in for Mystic in the seventh and put away the first four batters he faced. Carrying over from Driscoll’s start, the Schooners retired 15 straight batters dating all the way back to the third inning. That streak finally ended in the eighth when Dixon Williams (East Carolina) singled with one out. Niko Brini (UConn) flew out for the second out but Williams stole second to put the pressure on Mystic. Moments later, Nolan Stevens (Mississippi State) tallied his second hit of the night with a single to send Williams home and give the Gulls a 2-1 lead.
Down to the final three outs, Colby Holcombe (Mississippi State) replaced Starke on the mound to close things out. Trailing by one, the Schooners didn’t have an answer for Holcombe who retired the side in order for a stress-free ninth as the Gulls prevailed 2-1.
Newport returned to the win column to improve to 7-5 while Mystic dropped to 6-8. The Gulls have won all three games against the Schooners so far to take a 3-0 lead in the NBIC Cup. The Gulls now hold a one game lead for first place in the Coastal Division and take another trip to the Vineyard tomorrow to take on the Sharks for the second time in three days on the road. First pitch is slated for 7:05.
