OAK BLUFFS, Mass. — The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks stayed alive in dramatic fashion Tuesday night, overcoming an early deficit to defeat the Newport Gulls 14-5 and force a decisive Game 3 in their New England Collegiate Baseball League semifinal series.
The Sharks erupted for 11 runs in the sixth inning to break open what had been a tight contest and send the best-of-three series back to Newport’s Cardines Field for a winner-take-all showdown Wednesday night.
CJ Bott of UCLA started for Newport, looking to clinch the Gulls’ third consecutive trip to the NECBL championship series. The right-hander was effective early, striking out seven batters through five innings while relying heavily on his fastball to keep Martha’s Vineyard hitters off balance.
The Sharks struck first in the second inning when Max Kaufer capitalized on a Newport error and balk to launch a three-run homer into deep left field, giving the home team an early 3-0 advantage.
Newport responded immediately in the third inning. Matthew Bolton of Binghamton led off with an infield single before Michael Gupton of Memphis doubled down the left-field line to drive in the Gulls’ first run. Colby Wallace of East Carolina then tied the game with a two-run homer to left field, his second home run of the playoffs.
The teams traded runs through the middle innings, with Martha’s Vineyard taking a 5-3 lead into the sixth on RBI singles from Gio Colasante and Brady Krzciok.
That’s when the game turned decisively in the Sharks’ favor. Newport’s pitching staff imploded in the sixth inning as the Gulls used four different relievers in the frame. Casen Murphy of Louisville, Blake Julius of Oklahoma State and others combined to allow 11 runs on a series of walks, hit batters and extra-base hits.
Will Hampton delivered the key blow with a two-run double as part of the offensive explosion that turned a two-run game into a 14-3 rout.
Despite the lopsided score, Newport showed resilience by putting runners on base in every inning of the game. The Gulls added single runs in the seventh and ninth innings, with Wallace driving in his third run of the night on a sacrifice fly in the final frame.
Bolton was a bright spot for Newport, reaching base three times including a double in the sixth inning. Ryan Novak of Miami also had multiple hits, including doubles in both the seventh and ninth innings.
The loss sets up a winner-take-all Game 3 Wednesday night at Cardines Field in Newport. The winner will advance to face the Keene Swampbats in the NECBL championship series.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with the game available on ESPN+.
For the Gulls, it’s a chance to defend their championship on home turf after seeing their hopes of a series sweep dashed by Martha’s Vineyard’s offensive eruption. For the Sharks, it’s an opportunity to complete a stunning comeback and advance to their first championship series.
