The Newport Gulls (16-10) faced in-state rival OceanState Waves (9-16) on a windy Wednesday night in Newport, RI. Cole Cheatham (Alabama Birmingham) got the start for the Gulls while OceanState featured Kyler Cormack (Ole Miss).
Cheatham struggled to throw strikes in the first inning but was able to get out of it with no damage. Carmack was solid but an error and a walk led to a run from a sacrifice fly by Dixon Williams (East Carolina).
The Gulls took a 1-0 lead into the second inning in a hitless game. Waves catcher Rob Butler (Rhode Island) hit a double and scored to tie the game at 1. Carmack settled in nicely striking out college rival Nolan Stevens (Mississippi State) and getting out of the second inning only allowing a single baserunner.
Cheatham was battling through the third inning but was called for a balk that scored a runner from third while also advancing a runner to second base. The Waves stole three bases in the inning but couldn’t score more than a single run. A slow, steady game continued through the third inning.
Dixon Williams got aboard with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a ground out play. He then scored on a wild pitch which tied the game at 2 runs apiece. Carmack then walked Tyler Minnick (Middle Tenn. St.) and hit Jack Doyle (Northeastern) with a pitch to put runners on second and third with 2 out in the third inning.
The Waves made a call to the bullpen and brought in Nicholas Conte (Bryant) in relief. Kyler Carmack’s evening ended allowing 1 hit and 2 runs (1 earned). Conte escaped the third inning easily and the game was knotted at 2.
Cheatham cruised through the fourth inning with some help from his defense. Most notably, Andrew Duncan (Florida State) caught a deep fly ball against the center field wall to record the third out. Ocean State’s Conte struck out three batters in the inning with one runner left on base.
Cheatham hit a batter and allowed a stolen base to Zac Zyons (Bryant) in the fifth inning. Zyons scored on a single by Logan Hughes (Texas Tech). Mason Ulsh (Quinnipiac) came to the rescue to get the final out and minimize the damage. Ocean State took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
A single and stolen base by Dixon Williams opened the door for a game-tying run. Jack Doyle came through with a deep double to center that scored Williams and tied the game at 3 runs apiece. The inning came to a close with no further damage done.
Ulsh allowed a single and a walk in the top of the sixth inning but some great defense by his outfield helped produce a scoreless half inning. Jackson Vanesko (Bryant) took over for the Waves on the mound. He struck out the side in an impressive first inning. The game remained tied 3-3 after six innings.
Ulsh started to struggle in the top of the second as he allowed multiple extra-base hits in the inning. 3 Waves scored and Gulls manager Mike Coombs went to the bullpen to relieve Ulsh. Nick DiRito (UMASS Lowell) came in and got both outs allowing just one more run.
Jason Kreiger (Maine) came in for the Waves and got the first out easily. Dixon Williams got on base once again with a single to right and advanced after a ground out by Carmelo Musacchia (Northeastern). They couldn’t inflict any damage, though.
DiRito began the eighth inning and walked the first batter. He was replaced by Casey O’Dell (Florida Southern) who struck out the first batter he faced but allowed a stolen base and a single that resulted in another run for OceanState.
Gulls’ catcher Minnick was able to throw Zyons out at second base on an attempted steal. That was the first successful pickoff attempt of the night for Newport. A ground out ended the inning as Newport faced an 8-3 deficit entering the bottom of the eighth.
Niko Brini (Wofford), Duncan, and Stevens got aboard to load the bases with 1 out. A sacrifice fly by Tyler Hare (Wofford) scored Brini to narrow the lead to 4 runs. Seymour grounded out to end the inning, leaving two runners on base.
Entering the ninth inning, O’Dell was tasked with keeping the Gulls in reach. He retired two batters before allowing a walk. He struck out the next batter, keeping the Gulls within 4 entering the bottom of the ninth.
Brooks Ey (Bryant) entered the game for the Waves to close the game. Williams continued his hot streak, notching another single. Musacchia was hit by a pitch but was forced out at second after a Minnick ground ball. Jack Doyle struck out looking for the second out of the inning.
With the bases loaded, Duncan was hit by a pitch to score Williams. Nolan Stevens had an enormous opportunity with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Newport trailing by three runs. He struck out swinging to end the game. The Waves defeated the Gulls 8-5.
The Waves will travel to Vermont to take on the Mountaineers at 6:30 PM, Thursday. The Gulls have an off day on Thursday and will return to action against the North Adams Steeplecats on Friday at home for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 PM.
