Gulls Survive in North Shore, Hold Off Navigators 7-4

Fresh off a thrilling comeback victory on Wednesday night, the Newport Gulls hit the road Thursday and headed to Fraser Field in Lynn, MA, for a matchup with the North Shore Navigators. This time around, it was the Gulls fending off a late rally as they cruised to a 7-4 win on the wood-bat circuit.

Newport jumped out to an early lead, plating four runs in the opening frame. Back-to-back doubles from Devan Zirwas (Coastal Carolina) and Caeden Cloud (Kentucky) staked the Gulls to a 2-0 advantage, and the lead doubled after a Ryan Novak (Miami OH) sacrifice fly and an Ernie Echavarria (Penn) RBI single.

With an early cushion, Bryce Koch (Louisville) was fabulous on the mound. The right-handed flamethrower cruised through 4.1 innings of work, surrendering just one run while keeping North Shore’s bats in check.

The Gulls’ lead swelled to five after the fourth when Gus Gandy (Samford) launched a two-run shot over the left-field wall. Just when the game seemed out of reach, the Navigators began to apply pressure. Joe Barbarino (FDU) entered for Newport and quickly found himself in a bases-loaded jam before inducing a 5-2-3 double play. An inning later, North Shore not only plated two runs to trim the deficit to 7-3 but once again loaded the bases. Barbarino stayed hot, forcing a 1-2-3 twin killing to escape the threat.

After Barbarino worked 1.2 innings of high-leverage relief, Newport handed the ball to Will Coleman (Kentucky). Coleman surrendered a run in his first frame but settled down and entered the ninth protecting a 7-4 lead. The Navigators aimed to mount a late rally, loading the bases with two outs and putting the tying run in the on-deck circle. That’s when catcher Ernie Echavarria made the play of the night – a quick back-pick to the third-base bag that caught the runner napping and shut the door on North Shore’s comeback bid.

The win gives Newport back-to-back victories as the Gulls maintain their grip on second place in the South Division standings. Newport returns to action tonight against the Bristol Blues, with first pitch from Cardines Field set for 6:35 p.m.