CELINA, Ohio-- The Stark County Terriers fell to the Grand Lake Mariners of Celina, Ohio 7-6 in game one of the double header in front of 120 fans at Jim Hoess Field.  The Terriers fall to 14-11 on the season as Grand Lake improves to 11-15.

Tyler Newhart (John A. Logan/Alliance, Ohio) started the game on the rubber for the Terriers in game one going 4.2 innings allowing five runs on six hits and striking out two.  Pat O’Brien (Bowling Green/Boardman, Ohio) relieved Newhart in the bottom of the fifth with two outs and runners on the corners.  O’Brien threw one pitch in his appearance to get Andrew Carpenter to ground out to second base.   John Nasshan (Bradley/Niles, Ill.) took over on the hill in the sixth going the rest of the way.

The Mariners jumped on top of the Terriers 3-0 in the home half of the first inning.  The Terriers were able to get two runs back in the top of the second after Jason Bagoly (Kent State/Austintown, Ohio) led off the inning with a single followed by a double down the right field line by Eastern Michigan product Zack Leonard.  Jason Leblebijian (Bradley/Arlington Heights, Ill) followed suit with a two RBI single down the right field line to bring the Terriers within one run.

Stark County continued to hit Grand Lake pitcher Jon Richard in the top of the third inning as Josh Haley (UNC @ Pembroke/Jackson Springs N.C.) and Alex Caghan (Rochester/North Canton, Ohio) both singled to start the inning.  Mark Lapikas (Toledo/Powell, Ohio) then singled through the right side to score Haley. Bagoly then hit into a fielder’s choice to plate Caghan. 

The Mariners regained the lead 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth with a two out single by Corey Hough that scored Sam Picciotti followed by another single by Kevin Bower to drive home Jensen Painter. 

In the top of the seventh both Haley and Caghan both singled to start a two run rally by the Terriers.  After a swinging bunt by Lapikas that advanced both runners into scoring position pinch hitter Zack Vesco (Wooster/Pickering, Ohio) hit a two RBI single through the right side to put the Terriers on top.

The Terriers lead was short lived as the Mariners plated two runs to win the game in the bottom of the seventh on a two out two RBI single by Bower.

The Terriers will take on the Mariners again in game two of the double header today.  First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

-TBC-