Southpaws hand River Bandits second straight loss

A solo home run by Ryan Ulisse in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference as the New Bern Southpaws upended the Tarboro River Bandits 5-4 in an Old North State League Northeastern Division game on Tuesday night in New Bern.

The River Bandits, who were scheduled to play a non-divisional game at home against the Fuquay-Varina Twins on Wednesday followed by a divisional contest at home against the Southpaws on Thursday, dropped their second straight game and fell to 9-6 in the division and 22-8 overall, while the Southpaws improved to 8-6 in divisional play and 14-10 overall.

A two-run home run by Mason Reising, his ninth of the season, followed a leadoff double by Cam Greenway in the top of the fifth and gave Tarboro a 4-2 advantage, but the River Bandits were not able to hold it.

New Bern tied it at 4-all with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

With one out, Ben Hays singled and Jude Morton walked. Miles Nelson doubled home Hays and Parker Byrd grounded out to bring in Nelson with the tying run.

Ulisse’s blast in the bottom of the sixth broke the tie and completed the rally for the Southpaws.

Relief pitcher Matthew Mapes came on and secured the save for New Bern as Nelson made a diving catch of a line drive at third base for the final out as Ryan Yaroshuk (hit by pitch) was left stranded.

Tarboro collected three hits in the top of the first inning and scored twice for a 2-0 lead.

Preston Shelton led off with a single and moved to second on a groundout from Brett Rogers. Greenway reached on a fielder’s choice, Reising singled to load the bases, and one out later, Ryan Fluharty roped a two-run double to right field.

Tarboro starting pitcher Cole Molina retired the first six batters he faced in the New Bern lineup, but he ran into trouble in the third inning.

A hit batter (Hays) and a bases-loaded walk (Morton) tied the game at 2-all, but Greenway threw out the potential go-ahead run at the plate to complete the inning-ending double play.

UPCOMING GAMES

Thursday, July 11: At home against the New Bern Southpaws (7 p.m.)Friday, July 12: At home against the Sandhills Bogeys (7 p.m.)Saturday, July 13: At the Edenton Steamers (7 p.m.)Sunday, July 14: At the River City Skippers (6 p.m.)