The Mariner boys baseball team snapped a five-game skid Tuesday night, taking the first of a three-game series with North Fort Myers with a 4-1 win. 

Both club’s starting pitchers turned in solid performances, but it was a clutch bases-clearing double in the sixth inning via senior Nick Mackey that propelled the Tritons (4-7) to the victory.  

“That’s all we’ve been preaching is to just keep doing the little things right and sometimes the balls will fall,” said Mariner head coach Tom Woodley. “Nick Mackey has been fighting all year long and just doing those little things right and I was glad he came up and squared the ball up.” 

Senior Michael Scalise took the ball to start the game for the Tritons and was opposed by North junior Dylan Mercer.  

Over 4 1/3 innings, Scalise gave up one unearned run, struck out nine batters, allowed just two hits and walked two in the no decision.  

“He’s been solid for us all year long,” Woodley said of the left-handed Scalise. “He got into a couple bad counts and missed location a little, but he got the job done.” 

Mercer took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Mariner strung some hits together and chased him from the game. He tossed 5 2/3 innings surrendering four earned runs, three hits, four walks and struck out eight.  

“We just left a lot of guys on base,” said North head coach Mark Rose. “Our pitcher dealt all night, kept them quiet, but you got to give it to their guy (who worked out of jams). We didn’t situational hit like we should.” 

North (6-6) took the early advantage in the fourth inning as Logan Wilsker drove a double to right-center that scored Blake Busby who reached on an error.  

Mariner would score all four of its runs in the sixth inning and got rolling when Matt Morales blooped a single into right field directly behind the first baseman to tie the game. After retiring a Triton batter, Mercer’s outing was ended due to pitch count and in came in hard-throwing reliever Aiden Denlinger.  

Rose gave his starting pitcher praise for working out of jams and rarely allowing solid contact. This is the second time this season Mercer has taken a no-hitter late into a game but was not given the run support he needed.  

“He’s been solid. He’s had a pretty good season for us so far, but this seems to happen to him,” Rose said of the lack of run support. “His last start we left guys on base — it’s kind of been the story for him pitching. But he’s been gritty and battling with us.” 

It was Mackey who came up to the dish with two outs and the bases loaded to take on Denlinger. After falling behind 0-2, Mackey squared up a fastball left over the plate and drove it to deep left center, scoring all three Tritons on base and giving the road team a 4-1 lead.  

“Two out hits win ball games,” Woodley said. “They’re big in this game of baseball, I don’t care what level you’re at. If we can do that, we’re going to be fine. I just want to see us cut our strikeouts down, that’s the big thing.” 

Mariner’s Billy Wilson was exceptional in relief, not yielding a run and earning the win. He tossed 2 2/3 innings, surrendered just two hits and struck out two. His biggest moment perhaps was coming into the game with men on in the fifth and inducing a double play ball turned nicely by the Tritons middle-infield.  

While Mariner’s record thus far is something the team is working to improve, Woodley said if they continue to do the right things the tide can turn.  

“We’re doing the things we’re supposed to do, hopefully now things will start clicking for us. We’ve been on a slide here, but these guys keep showing up and working and that’s all we can ask for.” 

With the loss, North falls to the .500 mark but has shown an ability to compete — something the team has lacked in recent seasons.  

“We’ve got a good roster. We have good pitching with us right now, it’s the hitting that’s been streaky,” Rose said.  

As for the game on Tuesday, leaving guys on base and situational hitting is something both team’s head coaches said they need to improve upon.  

— Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj