North Shore Navigators LHP Michael Johnson (Dartmouth) allowed three hits while striking out four batters and walking only one in 8.2 innings to lead the Navigators to a 2-0 victory over the Newport Gulls in the second game in the Eastern Division Championship Series.
After a scoreless top of the first inning, North Shore got a two out walk to Braxton Garven (Bellarmine) and he would move up to second on a wild pitch. Cleanup hitter Anthony Melchoinda (Boston College) would bring him home with a double into the right-center field gap to give the Navigators the 1-0 lead. The Navigators expanded the lead in the third inning when Cody Dent (Florida) scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
Michael Johnson continued to keep the Newport offense off balance all game until the ninth inning when they got back to back singles with two outs before being lifted in favor of Hunter Rivers (Fresno State) who got the final out of the game. Eric Eadington was the loser for the Newport Gulls after going 6.2 innings while letting up three hits, two runs (1 earned) with two walks and five strikeouts.
The teams will meet for a winner take all Game 3 on Saturday evening in Newport at 6:35pm.
