Newport, RI- It was Mascot Night at Cardines and a beautiful night for baseball as the Newport Gulls took on the Upper Valley Nighthawks. It was Aidan Coleman (Pittsburgh) getting the start for Newport, and Xavier Pelzer taking the hill for Upper Valley.
Ethan Lizama got things started early for the Nighthawks with a double. However, the Gulls got out of the top of the first giving up no runs. In the bottom half of the frame, Andrew Duncan (Florida St.) led off with a walk, followed by a stand-up double from Tyler Hare (Wofford). Dixon Williams (East Carolina) capitalized on the situation with a two RBI single into centerfield. DH Nolan Stevens (Mississippi State) worked a one out walk ending Pelzer’s night. Dalton Olsovsky came in relief for the Nighthawks, but Matt Ossenfort (NC State) belted a 3 run shot giving the Gulls an early 5-0 lead.
The bats were quiet for the Nighthawks in the second inning with only a single from Cole Fellows. In the bottom of the inning, Carmelo Musacchia (Northeastern) reached first base on an error and then Tyler Hare continued his strong hitting performance with a right field single advancing Musacchia to third base. Following the hit, Dixon Williams walked and then a couple batters later, Nolan Stevens worked a bases loaded walk to send in another run for Newport. At the end of the second inning, the score was 6- 0.
In the third inning, Aidan Coleman continued his dominant performance with a 1-2-3 inning featuring 2 strikeouts. Dylan McCarthy came in to pitch for Upper Valley. Matt
Ossenfort, Jack Doyle (Northeastern), and Carmelo Musacchia all quickly worked walks, loading the bases and bringing the Gulls’ walk total for the game to seven. Shortly after, Tyler Hare and Dixon Williams walked bringing in two more runs for Newport. A passed ball scored Musacchia and then a sac fly by Randy Seymour (Michigan State) brought the run total to ten for Newport. The next batter, Nolan Stevens, hit an RBI single to bring his hit streak to thirteen games. The score after the third inning was 11-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Cole Fellows hit a two out double tallying two of the three Nighthawks’ hits of the night. That was the only bright spot of the inning for the Nighthawks as Coleman continued to pitch a gem. The bottom half of the fourth started off very much like the third with two quick walks for Newport. Jacob Price came in to pitch for Upper Valley marking their fourth pitcher of the night. The Nighthawks turned a nice double play, then Price threw a three pitch strikeout to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Aidan Coleman continued his masterful performance with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth. The Gulls continued right where they left off with two singles from Randy Seymour and Nolan Stevens followed by a walk from Jacob Burley (Wake Forest). Despite the rally, Upper Valley got out of the inning without giving up any runs.
Coleman continued his great performance into the sixth inning and the Nighthawks could not get the bats going. In the bottom of the sixth, Price had three straight strikeouts to prevent the Gulls from putting any more runs on the board.
Ty Starke (Louisville) relieved Coleman in the seventh inning. Cole Fellows continued his
hot streak with a leadoff single. Starke quickly bounced back with back to back strikeouts. Carter Jagiela lined a single into centerfield but it wasn’t enough, as Starke racked up another strikeout. Tyler Hare led off for the Gulls with a walk, reaching base in 4 of 5 of his plate appearances thus far. Price bounced back with his sixth and seventh strikeouts of the ballgame. With two outs, Nolan Stevens hit one up the middle and into centerfield for a single, advancing Hare to third. Burley walked, creating a bases loaded opportunity. Ossenfort took advantage of the situation and placed one into left field for an RBI single. At the end of the seventh inning the score was 12-0 Gulls.
The top of the eighth presented no challenges for Ty Starke as he threw a 1-2-3 inning. Nate Crider came in to pitch for the Nighthawks in the bottom of the inning. Newport added two runs to the board on a Seymour RBI double and passed ball. .
Casey ODell (Florida Southern College) shut things down for the Gulls in the top of the ninth closing the door on a 14-0 victory. The Gulls hit the road tomorrow, Tuesday July 2nd to take on the OceanState Waves.
