HOLYOKE, MA. – Opening night in the hills of Holyoke saw pitchers from both sides squaring off and hurling at their best. On a warm night, the bats went cold for both sides, and the third-inning run scored on a fielder’s choice for Valley was all that was needed.

Right-handed pitcher, Greg Shaw, got the game going for Valley in the 1st, striking out two Gulls in the process of a clean slate top of the first. Returning arm, Drew DeLucia (Franklin Pierce) matched Shaw on the hill, facing the minimum in the early going, and did so for the first two frames. 

The Gulls managed to put a runner on in both the second and third thanks to a pair of hits from Andreaus Lewis (Manhattan) and Randy Seymour (Michigan State), but Newport was unable to plate either.

The momentum shifted when Blue Sox left fielder Mike Lucarelli kicked off the home half of the third with a double that got over the head of left fielder Ty Stecko (Eastern Michigan). Lucarelli was moved over to third following a Rees Kozar hit by pitch and an error from Petey Craska (North Alabama) at third, which loaded the bases with no outs. Leadoff man Chris Walsh hit into a double play, but it was enough to plate Lucarelli for an unearned run. Cooper Vance grounded out to DeLucia, whose day was done after three innings, striking out three.

Shaw continued to dominate on the mound for Valley as he went five strong innings, striking out six batters and retiring the last seven batters he faced. Finbar O’Brien (Gonzaga) came in for DeLucia and proved to be a tough matchup for the Valley bats. O’Brien was sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball and was mowing down Blue Sox hitters. He faced 10 hitters in three innings, with the only blemish being a hit-by pitch after he plunked Drew Loikits to lead off the sixth.

Following Shaw, the Blue Sox employed an army of relievers that each saw one inning until the game ended. Lefty’s Ethan Slowik and Jack Potteiger both walked the lead Newport batter in the 6th and 7th innings but retired the side in three batters following the free pass.

Blake Julius (Oklahoma State) came in for the dominant O’Brienn in the 7th and settled in nicely. After walking Clay Burdette, his first batter, Julius retired his next six victims, ending a phenomenal day on the mound for the Gulls staff.

Newport threatened righty Jack Geiser and the Blue Sox in the top of the eighth after putting runners on first and second thanks to a Shane Williams (Salve Regina) base hit, and a Craska walk. Geiser was able to retire Ty Stecko with a punchout to relieve the pressure and sail into the ninth.

Andrew Wertz came in for Valley and shut the door on a Gulls comeback, striking out the side for his first save of the season and handing Newport its first loss in 2025. Although the Gulls managed two more hits, it was not enough to take care of Valley in Holyoke.

The Gulls drop to 0-1 on the season. Newport is back in action on Wednesday, June 4th, at Cardines Field for the Gulls home opener vs. the Vermont Mountaineers. The first pitch is at 6:35 p.m. and is streaming live on ESPN+.