By: Shannon Bickert

The Schooners dropped their third straight game, falling 4-1 to the Westerners on Friday, July 24. The loss moves Mystic to 21-16 on the summer, while the Westerners moved to 20-17.

Mystic’s starter, Nick Santivanez (Cal State Fullerton), tossed a 1-2-3 first inning.

The Schooners got up early in the first against Chase DePalma (VWU). Jack Harley (Stetson) and Anthony Belisario (GWEB) drew walks in the first frame. Harley came in to score on an error, giving Mystic a 1-0 advantage.

Chris Walsh (Northeastern) drew a two-out walk for Mystic in the bottom of the second and swiped second, but the Schooners were unable to add on.

Anthony Ruggiero (URI) recorded the first hit on the game in the third, a single to left field. Bryce Detwiler (UConn) followed with a knock through the left side, and Thomas O’Connell (UVA) worked a walk to load the bases. DePalma held the Schooners, stranding three to keep it a one-run game.

After retiring the first 11 hitters he faced, Santivanez gave up his first hit of the game in the fourth to Gavin Donohue (SHU).

In the sixth, Santivanez allowed back-to-back singles before Colby Correia (Endicott) entered with one out and two on. Correia walked Aidan Stern (Trinity) to load the bases, but got out of the jam, not yielding a run.

The Westerners made their first call to the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth to Hayden Lee (Salve Regina). The Schooners were unable to capitalize on Gavin O’Brien’s (Northeastern) two-out single to right.

The Westerners pulled ahead in the top of the seventh. Correia allowed two free passes to open the seventh, before Mystic turned to Luke Trout (Brown). Ronan Donahue (SHU) and Jack Lutte (Denison) worked a double steal, and Donahue came in to score to tie the game on a groundout. Matt Dieguez (Fordham) walked, setting up Ryan Martin (Dallas Martin) for a three-run shot to take the 4-1 lead.

Connor Shaw (SDSU) took the mound in the ninth inning for Mystic. Shaw dealt two walks while striking out three to hold the Westerners scoreless in the final frame.

The Schooners tried to stage a ninth inning rally as O’Brien tallied his second hit of the night and Justin Best (Manhattan) worked a walk. Lee was able to close out the win, forcing a double play.

The Schooners host the Valley Blue Sox for a double-header on Saturday, July 25. First pitch for game one is set for 4 pm.