Storming the field in the fog after edging past Harwich 4–3, the Birds had almost a storybook ending on Saturday night against the Mariners.

“Coming off of yesterday’s loss, we put runs up there, and it was a good feeling to get back in the win column,” Elijah Ickes (Hawaii) said. “Hopefully we can ride this win out.”

It was down to the wire when seeing who would be victorious in the matchup.

In fact, it took until the last play of the game to be completely sure that the Birds were going to bring home a win.

After a wild pitch by Steele Murdock (UC San Diego), it advanced Jake Koonin (Princeton) to third. Orleans was going to need a big stop to prevent the Mariners from knotting the score.

They did just that off a double play to end the game in a sea of celebration on the mound.

After Sam Harris (Duke) hit into a fielder’s choice double play, Alejandro Garza (Cal Poly) initiated the play.

Garza launched the ball to catcher Cashel Dugger (UCLA), who sent it to first baseman Robbie Lavey (George Washington), who then returned it to second baseman Abbrie Covarrubias (USC), resulting in a Koonin out at home and a Harris out at second.

“It was pretty exciting to see that last play go down,” Ickes said. “Peanut makes a pretty good stop and ends up getting the guy at home and then heads a play to Cash, catching the runner slipping at first base. Hectic way to win the game but it was a fun way to win the game.”

When asked about what Dugger has brought to the Birds so far, manager Kelly Nicholson had nothing but praise for the catcher.

“Cashel Dugger is one of the best catchers in the United States,” Nicholson said. “He has got great presence, he calls a great game, he has got good energy, he handles his pitching staff really well, the pitchers trust him, and he put together really good at bats tonight.”

After a disastrous start to yesterday’s matchup against the Harbor Hawks, Orleans started on a fresh slate by delivering its first run in the top of the second. Ickes ignited the Birds’ offense with a single on a soft line drive. However he wasn’t done, stealing second.

Garza followed suit, singling on another line drive to left field, bringing Ickes home on the play.

That 1–0 dominance wouldn’t last for too long though. Eventually, the Mariners would snatch the lead from the Birds.

Off a Koonin homer on a fly ball, it seemed like the Mariners had just about figured out the formula for success in the matchup, taking a 2–0 Harwich lead.

But it would be a punch-for-punch battle as the Birds would begin the top of the third with an explosive Michael O’Shaughnessy (Georgia) single.

As Michael Crossland then walked (UC San Diego), all eyes were on Lavey. Despite both Lavey and Covarrubias grounding out, Ickes answered for Orleans.

Singling on another line drive, Ickes advanced to second after a throwing error by third baseman Dee Kennedy (Kansas State), scoring Crossland and giving Orleans a 3–2 lead.

Olin Johnson (North Carolina) then allowed a Garza walk.

The Birds continued to capitalize on the momentum, as Dugger nailed a single to left field, sending Ickes at full speed home. With a two-run lead, it seemed like the Birds were in good standing.

For the next four innings, it was a defensive battle for both squads, as the pitchers stood dominant on the mound.

The bird’s pitching staff on the night included Cal Scolari (San Diego), Ethan Foley (California), Ryan Oshinskie (Brown), and Murdock. In 4 IP, Scolari allowed one hit, one homerun, and had six strikeouts.

Foley followed Scolari’s lead with one run and four strikeouts in his 2.2 IP. Oshinskie and Murdock closed it out for the Birds. Oshinskie allowed just one hit and had two strikeouts in his 1.1 IP, while Murdock had one hit and tallied one strikeout in his 1 IP.

“In this league, it is pitching and defense,” Nicholson said. “We did both extremely well tonight, and I don’t think we had any errors. I don’t know how many guys we walked, but I don’t think it was many. That’s a good combination for success in this league.”

Even though the Mariners managed to bring the score to within one, it would not be enough to faze the Birds, as they went 2–0 against Harwich.