The Newport Gulls punched their ticket to the New England Collegiate Baseball League semifinals Sunday night, defeating the Mystic Schooners 5-4 in a thrilling Game 3 at Cardines Field before 2,451 fans.
Leighton Harris earned the victory in relief for Newport, throwing three scoreless innings to close out the game. Marcel Kulik recorded the save as the Gulls held off a late Mystic rally to win the best-of-three quarterfinal series 2-1.
After falling behind early, Newport responded with timely hitting throughout the game. Colby Wallace of East Carolina, who homered in Saturday’s loss, drove in a run for the Gulls. Adam Agresti of St. John’s continued his clutch postseason performance with two RBIs, including a key double. Aaron Lewis also contributed an RBI for Newport’s balanced offensive attack.
Mystic kept pace early behind Luke Holland’s solo home run and solid hitting from Anthony Belisario, who doubled in the loss. The Schooners loaded the bases multiple times but left eight runners on base, unable to capitalize on their scoring opportunities against Newport’s bullpen.
The victory sets up a semifinal matchup with the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday at 6:35 p.m. at Cardines Field. Newport will send Tristan Bristow to the mound as they continue their pursuit of an NECBL championship. The Gulls’ comeback from a 1-0 series deficit demonstrates the resilience that could serve them well in the semifinals.
