Schooners lose homer opener to Newport

Alex DeLeon and Brett Winger hit two-run home runs to rally the Newport Gulls to a 4-1 victory over the Mystic Schooners on Saturday night at Fitch High School, spoiling Mystic's home opener in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

Mystic (0-2) led 1-0 after seven, but DeLeon hit his homer with one out in the eighth to give the Gulls a 2-1 lead and Winger homered with one out in the ninth to provide Newport with some breathing room. Winger finished 3-for-4.

The Schooners broke a scoreless tie in the seventh when pinch-hitter Carson Helms (Virginia Tech) walked with one out, moved to second on a base hit by Reed Athnes (Duke) and scored on a two-out single by Anthony Turgeon, the former Fitch great.

Athnes, Mystic's designated hitter, was 3-for-3 while third baseman Ryan Lindemuth (William & Mary) had a pair of singles. Conor LeBlanc (UMass) pitched six scoreless innings for the Schooners, allowing six hits while walking one and striking out three.

- Day Staff Reports