WHITNEY POINT - Newark Valley baseball came up just short of landing their first win of the season on Thursday, going down on the road to Whitney Point, 7-6 in a tightly contested IAC matchup.

Newark Valley came out hot, plating four runs in the first inning. Joshua Benjamin began the game with a lead off single for the Cardinals. Brandon Eynon followed with a walk and Joshua Karp was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Benjamin would score on a wild pitch, before Gabe Merrill came to the plate and smacked a double  to drive in Eynon. Karmine Cataloni worked a walk next to load the bases back up for Newark Valley. Karp scored on another wild pitch, and with two outs, Merrill would also score on a wild pitch to put the Cardinals ahead 4-0.

Newark Valley carried a lead until Whitney Point scored a run in the third and four more in the fourth inning.

The Cardinals responded immediately, however, with two runs of their own in the fifth to regain the lead. With two outs and Merrill on base, Cataloni drew another walk. Kenny Slater stepped into the box and knocked a double into left field to score Merrill. Newark Valley scored the second run of the inning on another Whitney Point wild pitch to make things 6-5 in the Cardinals favor.

Newark Valley went into the seventh and final inning with a lead. The Cardinals retired the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh, but a walk followed by a Whitney Point two-run homer to left field ended the game, keeping the Cardinals from that first win of the season.

Gabe Merrill went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Slater was 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI, while Benjamin also went 2-for-4 at the plate and scoring. Karp, Eynon and Cataloni all crossed the plate for Newark Valley runs.

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