By: Shannon Bickert

The Schooners outlasted the Sharks in a 10-inning thrilling, defeating the league’s best 8-7 on Saturday, June 20. The win moves Mystic to 10-4 on the summer.

Jordan Paradis (UMass-Dartmouth), the Sharks starter, struggled with command early. Jack Harley (Stetson) wore a pitch, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and swiped second to open the first frame. Bryce Detwiler (UConn) worked a walk and got caught in a pickle, allowing Harley to score, giving Mystic an early 1-0 lead.

Martha’s Vineyard answered with a two-run bottom of the first. In his first start with Mystic, Brady Bouchard (Stetson) allowed the first two hitters he faced to reach. Both baserunners came in to score on Carter Bentley’s (Northeastern) double down the right field line.

Jamie Zee (Notre Dame) and Thomas O’Connell (UVA) led off the second with back-to-back walks. Zee and O’Connell both advanced the extra 90 feet on stolen bases, but the Schooners were unable to capitalize on the early traffic.

The Sharks extended their lead to two runs in the second inning. Jailen (UMiami) plated James McGee (Kennesaw St.) on a line-drive single.

Bouchard’s day ended after dealing three walks in the third. Chris Hernandez (CSF) entered in relief and recorded the final out of the inning.

Mystic put up a three-run fourth to take the lead. Anthony Ruggiero (Portal) put the first Schooners hit on the board with a single to right in the fourth. O’Connell and Anthony Belisario (Portal) worked back-to-back walks, loading the bases for Mystic. Justin Best (Manhattan) plated Ruggiero on an RBI-single through the right side, making it a one-run game. The Schooners tied the game when Harley wore a pitch, bringing in O’Connell to score. Casey Wensley (Bryant) gave Mystic the lead on a four-pitch walk.

Martha’s Vineyard took advantage of walks and a passed ball to tie the game at four all in the bottom of the fourth.

The Schooners broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning. Belisario and Best worked consecutive walks and Harley chopped an infield single to load the bases. Wensley drilled a sacrifice fly to center to give the Schooners the 5-4 lead.

The Sharks matched the Schooners in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nick Santivanez (CSF) took the bump in the sixth for Mystic. Santivanez recorded a strikeout and allowed two base hits before Mystic turned to Calvin Gregory (VCU). Jackson Roper (WFU) scored on Nick Barron’s (Northwestern) game-tying RBI infield single.

O’Connell and Belisario went back-to-back in the seventh to give Mystic the lead. O’Connell ripped a go-ahead solo home run deep to right field to give Mystic the 6-5 lead. Belisario followed with a solo shot of his own to right.

The Vineyard knotted the score at seven in the seventh. Jaylen Hernandez (Winthrop) singled and Nick Barron (Northwestern) doubled, setting up Will Hampton (Vanderbilt) for the two-RBI single. The Schooners turned to MJ Bollinger (UConn) to get out of the jam. Bollinger forced a double-play and dealt a strikeout to keep the game tied.

Bollinger tossed a three-up, three-down eighth inning to keep it a tied ball game.

Ruggiero led off the ninth with a single through the left side. Ruggiero swiped second, but was stranded in scoring position.

Bollinger pushed extras with a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts.

Christian Butera (Brown) started off the 10th with a sacrifice bunt, moving the ghost runner to third. Harley gave the Schooners the go-ahead run with an RBI single through the right side.

Connor Lane (UConn) took the bump in the 10th and shut the door on the Sharks.

The Schooners are back in action on Monday at the Valley Blue Sox. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm.