Sports

Baseball: Marelli’s three-run double boosts Monarchs

ROBERT O'ROURK PHOTO | Bishop McGann-Mercy's starting pitcher, Kevin Thomas, came off the mound to handle a ground ball.
ROBERT O’ROURK PHOTO | Bishop McGann-Mercy’s starting pitcher, Kevin Thomas, came off the mound to handle a ground ball during Friday’s win over Port Jefferson.

Designated hitter Pat Marelli’s three-run double keyed a four-run sixth inning to boost Bishop McGann-Mercy to a 9-5 home victory over Port Jefferson in a Suffolk County League VIII baseball game on Friday.

The Monarchs averted a three-game sweep after losing, 9-2 and 14-6, earlier in the week.

Third baseman Greg Gehring’s two-out, bases-loaded walk snapped a 5-5 tie just before Marelli delivered his bases-clearing blow to left field for the Monarchs (5-10, 5-10).

Port Jefferson (6-9, 6-9) overcame a 5-2 deficit by scoring three runs in the fifth inning off starting left-hander Kevin Thomas, who struck out five of the first 11 batters.

Right-hander Ray Ellis, normally a starter, pitched one-hit ball over the final two and two-thirds innings to register the win.

McGann-Mercy second baseman Kurt Bahnke reached base every time he made a plate appearance, scoring three times on a single, two walks and a hit by pitch.

The Monarchs will finish the regular season with a three-game series with Babylon on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.