FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             Contact: Tom Lima

June 18th, 2025                                                          Director of Media and Broadcast Operations

                                                                                   By Ethan Poole-Analyst

                                                                                    (401) 824-6314 - broadcast@newportgulls.com

Newport RI- The Newport Gulls bats were shutdown for the second night in a row on Wednesday, June 18. But instead of a 1-0 win like on Tuesday, they fell by a score of 2-1 to the North Adams SteepleCats for their first home loss of the season. Newport dropped to 7-6 while North Adams improved to 2-5.

Both teams received incredible starting pitching, Leighton Harris (Kentucky) was on the bump for the Gulls and provided an encore to Finbar O’Brien’s (Gonzaga) incredible five inning and 11 strikeout performance on Tuesday. Harris struck out eight SteepleCats through four innings,
only allowing two baserunners.

Despite Harris’s strong start, he was outdone by North Adams starter Dawson Montesa, who twirled five innings of no hit baseball, striking out five and escaping a second inning bases loaded jam unscathed. The Adelphi University product went four innings deeper than he had at
any point this summer and was awarded his first win of the season.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth inning, Gabriel Nativdad reached first on a fielder’s choice, and Robert Stang drove a two out pitch over 400 feet into left center field and over the fence, emphatically giving the SteepleCats the first lead of the evening.

Newport once again threatened in the bottom of the sixth, Andreaus Lewis (Manhattan) walked and Petey Craska (North Alabama) was hit by a two strike pitch, but Tristan Helmick, who relieved Montesa, induced a fielder’s choice to not only keep the shutout intact, but to keep
Newport out of the hit column as well.

Neither the shutout nor the no-hit bid lasted past the seventh inning though, Kyle Branch (Oklahoma) and Ryan Novak (Miami) walked, and Randy Seymour (Michigan St.) ripped a double into left field which scored Branch, sending Newport’s first run across the plate and
preventing a combined no hitter.

Helmick was relieved, and Branden Morris immediately walked the bases loaded. Seth Dardar battled with Morris, fouling off multiple two strike pitches and bringing the count to 3-2, but on the at bat’s eighth pitch he weakly grounded the ball back to Morris, who ended the inning by throwing Dardar out at first.

Ethan Lund (Oklahoma St) returned the favor in the top of the eighth inning by walking the bases loaded, before he was relieved by Casen Murphy (Louisville), who struck out Eli Gries-Smith to keep Newport within a run.

The Gulls didn’t threaten again until the bottom of the ninth, when North Adams reliever Eli Bridenthal threw 15 consecutive balls to walk the bases loaded and come a pitch away from bringing home the tying run. Bridenthal settled down, inducing a pop out from Lewis to bring the
SteepleCats an out away from victory. Seth Dardar then stepped to the plate and worked a 2-0 count, eventually ripping a line drive which was caught by Owen Arias, who dove to save the game and seal the win. Arias’s highlight reel worthy catch took the air out of Cardines Field as
the Gulls faithful left disappointed for the first time this season.

They won’t have to wait long to see Newport in action though, the Gulls return to the field this Friday to take on the Mystic Schooners, first pitch is 6:35 from Cardines Field and can be watched on ESPN+