In their first game back from the All-Star break, the Gulls start the final stretch of the season strong with a big win. Despite getting outhit, the Gulls beat the Sharks by the score of 6-2 with great pitching all around.
The Sharks would strike 1st inning with a leadoff home run from Chris Hacopian but were unable to capitalize on 2 more hits in the inning. The Gulls would get some runners on from the bottom of their lineup in the 2nd inning, loading the bases up for Niko Brini (Wofford) who would clear the bases to make it a 3-1 game.
After nobody could score in the 3rd inning, the Sharks would be the next to strike in the 4th on a sacrifice fly by Joey Brenczewski to bring the deficit to a 1 run game again. Newport would go scoreless in their half but would do damage again in the 5th inning. Following a Sharks pitching change, Randy Seymour (Michigan St) would drive in Dixon Williams with one down to extend the lead again. Seymour would then find his way home from errors and wild pitches during Matt Ossenfort (NC State)’s at bat to make it a 5-2 game.
Nobody would tally another run until the bottom of the 7th where the Gulls hitters would get hot once again. With 2 runners on, Matt Ossenfort (NC State) would double to bring in one run to make it 6-2, which would be the final score.
Aidan Coleman (University of Pitt) would have the first start for the Gulls after the break for his 7th start of the year. Coleman’s final line consists of 5 innings, allowing 9 hits, with 2 runs(both earned), and 4 strikeouts. Coleman as of the end of the games on the 24th leads the league in strikeouts with 45, and wins with 5.
After Coleman, Nick DiRito (UMASS Lowell) would take over. DiRito went 2 innings, allowing only 2 hits, did not allow any runs, and had 2 strikeouts. To close out the game, Adam Walker (Austin Peay) would pitch in back to back games. Walker would go 2 innings, allowing no hits nor runs, walking 1 batter but striking out 3 of the 7 batters he faced.
The Gulls move to 24-13 while the Sharks drop below .500 with a 18-19 record. The magic number for the Gulls to clinch the division is now only 1 game. Newport travels to North Shore to start a 3 game road trip in 3 straight days, tomorrow July, 25th.
