LYNN, Mass. — After rallying twice in the middle innings, the North Shore Navigators fell just short in a 4-3 loss to the visiting Newport Gulls in Saturday’s New England Collegiate Baseball League action at Fraser Field.

North Shore fell to 11-17 on the summer, while Newport moved to 19-11 to help maintain its first-place standing in the Coastal Division. 

Catcher Matt Chatelle (Rutgers) doubled and scored two runs, while second baseman Brendan Jones (Holy Cross) recorded his first extra-base hit of the season to drive in a run and came around to score another.

After falling behind by two runs, the Navigators’ bats came alive with two outs in the fifth inning. The inning started with designated hitter Ryan MacDougall (Dayton) reaching on an error and Chatelle grounding a fielder’s choice to second base.

After a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Danny MacDougall (Endicott) moved Chatelle into scoring position, Brendan Jones then grabbed the Navigators’ first hit and drove home the first run of the game on a double down the left-field line. Jones’ double ignited the Navigators’ bats, as center fielder Kyle Jones’ (Florida) hit through the right side doubled the lead to 2-0.

After Newport took the lead again on an error in the top of the sixth, it returned the favor in the seventh as a wild pitch scored Chatelle for the second time this game and evened the score at three. 

“I think we’re doing well in terms of keeping the games close. I just think we could do more little things,” manager Bob Macaluso said of the team’s performance. “I’d like to see us take more walks, swing at less first pitches, and not chase as much.” 

First baseman Isaac Kim (UC Stana Barbara) had a six-game hit streak on the line entering Saturday’s contest. While he was unable to extend his hit streak to seven games, right fielder Ryan Gerety (Northeastern) extended his on-base streak to four games with a first-inning walk. 

On the mound, Zach Gleason (Rutgers) made his fourth start of the season. The right-hander pitched one inning against the Gulls out of the bullpen in the teams’ previous meeting on July 9 and allowed one run on three hits.

But Gleason’s Saturday start fared much differently as he allowed just six base runners through five innings and carefully navigated through any traffic on the base paths. Gleason also showcased impeccable command, generating a multitude of swings and misses and striking out a season-high six batters across his five innings of work. 

“I think he competed well,” Macaluso said of Gleason's performance. “His breaking ball was decent, but for him to be really effective, his breaking ball has to be good.”

Gleason allowed the first batter to reach in each of the first three frames he pitched, but the Gulls could only take advantage of the leadoff runner in the third inning. With two outs and right fielder Niko Brini (Wofford) on third, designated hitter Tyler Hare (Wofford) sent a looping line drive over the head of Brendan Jones at second base to score his college teammate and secure the game’s opening run. 

Brini continued to fuel the Gulls’ offense in the fifth, as his second base hit and a stolen base allowed left fielder Nolan Stevens (Mississippi State) to double the lead on a base hit into center.

Brini was the Gulls’ best hitter all night long. The Plymouth native reached base twice on a pair of base hits and scored both times he reached base.

After the Navigators rallied twice to tie the game, a pair of hard-hit doubles into each center-field gap by first baseman Matthew Ossenfort (North Carolina State) and catcher Tyler Minnick (Middle Tennessee) gave the Gulls a 4-3 lead. 

The North Shore bullpen received strong performances from Gloucester's Zach Morris (Rhode Island) and Peabody's Ryan Bradley (Bryant), who each struck out two in their respecitve innings of work.

The Navigators will get an opportunity to recapture their season series lead against the Gulls when they travel to Cardines Field for a Monday doubleheader. 

First, the team will turn its attention to Sunday and another divisional contest against the Mystic Schooners at Fraser Field. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. on “Bark in the Park” Night presented by Healthy Pet.