LYNN, Mass. — Backed by a late-inning comeback, the North Shore Navigators edged out the Ocean State Waves 5-4 in New England Collegiate Baseball League action on Thursday night at Fraser Field.

With two outs and two on in the bottom of the eighth inning, Luke Orfi (Georgia Highlands) sought to break the 4-4 deadlock. He did just that, driving his third base hit of the game into right field, allowing Pat D’Amico (Seton Hall) to score from second base.

Ryan Buckler (Virginia Tech) ensured that Orfi’s first RBI of the season would not be in vain, making quick work of the Ocean State Waves in the final frame to secure the win.

“He (barrelled) up balls, and it's good to have him on base because he can really run (as) his stolen bases were the difference as well,” manager Bob Macaluso said on Orfi’s performance.

The win gives the Navigators their first winning streak of the season and breaks a pattern for both teams, who had alternated wins and losses all season. The result not only provided the Navigators with their first winning streak but also the Waves with their first losing streak of the early season.

In the Navigators’ prior home game last Saturday against Bristol, they broke the scoreless tie in the third inning, and on Thursday, they followed the same pattern. The Navigators were aggressive early and often on the base paths, swiping five bases through the first three innings and tying a franchise record with eight in the game.

Orfi was inserted into the lineup on Tuesday, snagging two hits and a stolen base in his season debut. He continued to shine in his second start of the season, stealing three more bases and going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

The former St. John’s Prep standout, D’Amico also finished with a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4.

Orfi singlehandedly spearheaded the North Shore offense in the third inning, hitting a leadoff single before stealing second, third and home. He completed the feat on the back end of a successful double steal with Reece Moroney (Rhode Island). Moroney also stole two bases.

The Navigators added to their lead in the fifth inning as a perfectly executed hit-and-run with Moroney at the plate and a groundout to second base by Ryan Gerety (Northeastern) allowed the lead to surge to 3-0. 

After a four-run seventh inning, the Navigators immediately responded in the bottom frame as a wild pitch allowed Moroney to score from third and even the score.

On the mound, the Navigators elected to start returner Will Jones (Northeastern). The left-hander allowed just one run in his previous start this season, and he improved on his last start by going five scoreless innings.

“What I like about him is he throws strikes,” Macaluso said about Jones. Macaluso added that Jones had been working on his changeup, and during the game, he threw some change-ups that “were pretty good.”

Jones was in command all evening, surrendering just three hits and doing most of his damage by consistently working ahead in counts and inducing weak contact.

“Landing that first strike is big because it's just such a huge advantage of getting ahead of the hitters, then they’re just at my mercy, and I can throw whatever I need and wherever I want,” Jones said on his performance.

But a barrage of quick runs in the seventh inning allowed the Waves to claim the first lead of the game. With the bases loaded, Carbone smashed a ground-rule double over the left field-center field fence, and a throwing error in the ensuing at-bat by pitcher Jack Bello (Air Force) allowed two more runs to score, giving the Waves a 4-3 lead.

The Navigators will take a brief road trip against the Valley Blue Sox on Friday before returning home for a two-game homestand over the weekend. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:35 p.m. at MacKenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Mass.