NEWPORT, R.I. – The defending champions proved too much for the Mountaineers as the Newport Gulls defeated Vermont 9-7 on Wednesday night.

Vermont fell into an early 5-0 hole but battled back to tie the game at five in the sixth inning. Newport’s three-run seventh proved to be the difference.

Box Score

The Basics

Score: Vermont 7, Newport 9

Records: Vermont 1-1, Newport 1-1

Location: Newport, R.I | Cardines Field

Rapid Recap

• Newport’s bats woke up early, plating two runs in the first via Ty Stecker’s RBI double and “Dre” Lewis’ RBI single.

• Cooper Montelbano got the start for the Mountaineers. He threw 1.2 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs plus a strikeout.

• Vermont managed three hits through the first three innings but came up empty, falling behind 5-0 as Newport’s Petey Craska and Stecker mashed back-to-back homers off Ant Ehly and a Mountaineers error that scored a third run in the third inning.

• The Mountaineers chipped away in the fourth, notching two runs via a four-walk inning from Ty Acker, Charlie Rogan, Rory Finn and Bennett Shealor. A Tank Yaghoubi RBI infield single scored the second run of the inning, but a baserunning mistake ended the inning on the same play.

• Jaylen Hernandez launched a no-doubt home run over the right field fence to lead off the fifth inning, making it a 5-3 game.

• Noah Hertzler tossed 2.2 innings in relief, striking out four and allowing just one run on one hit.

• In the sixth, Matthew Minckler’s bunt single started a Vermont surge. Minckler stole second and scored on Bennett Shealor’s RBI single. Rogan doubled and Hernandez notched his second RBI on a ground ball out to tie the game at five.

• A walk and two wild pitches from Ryan VanDeWater set up Randy Seymour’s infield single to break the tie at five in the bottom of the sixth.

• The Mountaineers went down 1-2-3 in the seventh inning while the Gulls’ three-spot gave them a four-run lead entering the eight.

• Joshua Rivera struck out four of the five batters he faced in a scoreless relief appearance for Vermont.

• Ashton Gilio’s leadoff base hit, Minckler’s RBI triple and a ball to the backstop cut the Mountaineers’ deficit to two, but Vermont’s final six batters went down in order to end the comeback effort.

Game Notes

• WP: John Hegarty (1-0) | LP: Noah Hertzler (0-1) | SV: Jake Gregor (1)

• Minckler has started the season with back-to-back games with an RBI.

• Hernandez has reached base six times through two games.

• Vermont’s pitching staff struck out 13 Newport batters Wednesday, good for 25 to open the year. Seven wild pitches and two passed balls helped Newport overcome the punchouts.

• The Mountaineers stole two bases (Minckler, Acker) after swiping seven in the opener.

Up Next

The Mountaineers head back to Vermont for the home opener versus North Adams at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Montpelier Recreation Field on NECBL+. 

Photo credit: Molly Smith (Director of Broadcast Production and Photographer)

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