NEWS & MEDIA

 NEWPORT, R.I. – Newport scored early and often to earn an 11-6 victory over Ocean State on Friday night at Cardines Field.

With the victory, the Gulls (12-5) have now evened the Pell Bridge Series at one apiece with the Waves (10-6).

The forecast appeared good for the Waves in the top of the first on Friday night. Ryan Blanton (Georgia St.) and Tim Caputo (URI) singled and Jordan Mountford (Bryant) reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Drew Ferguson (Belmont) then lofted a fly ball to left to bring home the first run of the game. The Waves, however, missed out on more as Shea Donlin made a diving play to start an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Newport then went to work, scoring four times in its first at-bat of the night. The first two batters singled and Blaise Salter delivered a two-run double down the left field line. Jose Vizcaino Jr. smacked an RBI single through the right side and a fourth run scored on a throwing error.

Ocean State rallied to cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the third. With two outs Caputo lined a single to left, went to second on a walk and scored as Ferguson singled through the left side.

The Gulls had an answer, however, as they scored seven runs in the bottom of the third to open the game up. The first five batters of the inning reached and Reed Gamache delivered a two-run single to make it 6-2. Newport opened the game further as Nick Zamarelli stroked a two-run double and Salter followed with a two-run home run to make it 11-2.

The Waves made it interesting as they rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh. Alec Diamond (Belmont) started the inning with a sharp single up the middle and then scored two batters later on a ground out from TJ Lynch (URI). Back-to-back walks loaded the bases with two outs and Brandon Bingel (Bryant) delivered an RBI single to right to bring in the fourth run. Robby Rinn (Bryant) drew a bases-loaded walk and Steve Wilgus (Monmouth) beat out an infield single to make it 11-6.

Luke Fernandes (Boston College) started for the Waves on Friday but was knocked out after just two-plus innings. He allowed seven runs on six hits in suffering his first loss of the summer. Brad Applin (URI) then tossed an inning, allowing four unearned runs on four hits. Ocean State’s bullpen buckled down after that, blanking the Gulls just two hits over the final five innings. Mark Lukowski (Creighton) allowed two hits and struck out two over three scoreless innings, Hunter Schryver (Villanova) struck out two in a perfect seventh and Jeff Paglione (Monmouth) retired the Gulls in order in the eighth.

Offensively, Caputo finished with two hits and two runs scored and Blanton also added a pair of runs scored. Bingel came off the bench to produce a pair of hits as well.

Brett Hanewich earned his first win of the summer for Newport as he allowed two runs on five hits and struck out five over six innings. Three Gulls registered multiple hits with PJ Jones leading the way with three. Salter finished with two hits, four RBI and two runs scored.

The Waves return home on Saturday to host Mystic. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 at Old Mountain Field.