Nationals nipped in Beach Tourney title game

A late rally fell just short as the Niagara Nationals dropped a narrow 3-2 decision to the Virginia Renegades this afternoon in the championship game of the Sports at the Beach Tournament held at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Trailing 3-0, the Nationals got back in the game on a two-run homer by Aiden Johnston in the top of the sixth inning. A walk and an error put two more runners aboard after that but the Nationals could not score the equalizer.

The Nationals also left a runner stranded at third base in the third, fourth and fifth frames and went down in order in the seventh.

Nate Sherman, Liam Ward and David Bellsito each had a pair of hits for the Nationals.

The Renegades scored once in the fourth on two hits and then twice in the fifth on back-to-back home runs.

The Nationals advanced to the title game by nipping the N.J. Gamers 3-2.

Blanked on just 4 scattered hits through the first six innings, the Nationals rallied from a 2-0 deficit to claim the win on a three-run walk off home run by Sam Murphy in the bottom of the seventh. A single by Chris Goyette and a walk to Trevor Luthart set up the opportunity.

Goyette and Ward both had a pair of hits. Goyette also picked up the win on the mound scattering 5 hits and striking out 3.

The Gamers scored twice in the second inning.