Waves Capture Pell Bridge Series in 5-4 Win

Trailing 3-1 in the Pell Bridge Series, the Newport Gulls entered Thursday's matchup at Old Mountain Field looking to keep their series hopes alive. In a hard-fought contest that showcased the competitive spirit of summer ball, the Ocean State Waves edged the Gulls 5-4 on July 14.

Newport struck first as Braxton Tramel (East Carolina) continued his impressive stretch at the plate, launching a solo home run to right field for the early 1-0 advantage. The Gulls extended the lead to 2-0 an inning later when Gus Gandy (Samford) came around to score, giving Newport early momentum.

Starting pitcher Mason Christopher (Seton Hall) worked efficiently through his first two frames before the Waves' lineup began to find its timing in the third. Ocean State seized a 3-2 lead, highlighted by a Gabe Milano home run that gave the home team their first advantage of the evening.

Tramel answered immediately in the fourth, crushing his second home run of the night—this one a towering drive to dead center field—to knot the game at 3-3. The Gulls' offense continued to manufacture pressure as Devan Zirwas (Coastal Carolina) delivered a clutch sacrifice fly in the fifth, putting Newport back in front 4-3.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the seventh when Ocean State strung together a two-run rally to reclaim the lead at 5-4. Despite the Gulls' best efforts in the final frames, the Waves' bullpen held firm, stranding runners in scoring position to close out the victory.

Despite the result, Tramel's two-homer performance and the team's resilience throughout the contest provide plenty of positives to build on as the summer season continues. The Gulls return to Cardines Field tomorrow to host the Martha's Vineyard Sharks. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Fans can stream the game live on NECBL+.