Gulls Snap Two Game Skid With Nail Biting Win

After back-to-back one-run losses, the Newport Gulls delivered when it mattered most, edging the Bristol Blues 3-2 on Wednesday night at Muzzy Field behind a dominant bullpen performance that snapped their two-game skid.

Newport's offense struck early. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Mason Ligenza (Pittsburgh) drew a patient walk to put the Gulls on the board. Bristol answered almost immediately, as Christian DiPrima (Wofford) laced an RBI double to knot the game at one apiece.

On the mound, starter Parker Rhodes (Mississippi State) set the tone through the first two frames. The hard-throwing right-hander surrendered just one run while punching out three, keeping the Gulls in striking distance. Joe Barbarino (FDU) then emerged from the bullpen to make his NECBL debut, and what a debut it was. The freshman dazzled through four scoreless innings, keeping Bristol off the hit column entirely and quickly landing on scouting radar across the wood-bat circuit.

Ligenza stayed hot at the plate, driving home another run with an RBI single in the third to give Newport a 2-1 cushion. That slim lead held until the seventh, when Bristol scratched across the tying run on an infield single to draw even once more.

Needing a response, the Gulls manufactured a rally in the eighth. With two outs and runners on the corners, Devan Zirwas (Coastal Carolina) delivered the go-ahead knock, lining an RBI single into the right-field grass to put Newport back on top, 3-2.

From there, closer Bryce Koch (Louisville) shut the door. The reliever worked the final two innings, allowing just one baserunner while preserving the victory and securing his latest save of the summer.

The Gulls (17-9) return home Thursday to kick off a weekend celebrating the organization's 25th anniversary season. First pitch against the Keene Swamp Bats is set for 6:35 p.m., with pregame festivities streaming live on ESPN+ beginning at 6:00 p.m.