NEWPORT, R.I. -- In a meeting of two regionally-ranked programs, the Mitchell College baseball team dropped a 5-1 decision to Salve Regina University on Thursday afternoon at Reynolds Field.

The Seahawks got on top early and kept the Mariners off the scoreboard until the ninth inning. Six Salve Regina pitchers combined to allow just one run on four hits in the contest. Nicolas Santo earned the win with a 4.0-inning stint of scoreless relief.

A two-out, solo homer by Dylan Ketch gave Salve Regina a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Seahawks added another run in the second, two more in the fifth and a final run in the sixth to go up 5-0.

Mitchell--which left runners in scoring position in the second, fourth, seventh and eighth innings--finally broke through in the ninth. After a single by Elijah Morton put runners at first and second with no outs, Owen Robbins doubled to left field to cut the deficit to four. However, reliever Graham Jeffries settled down to retire the next three batters to end the game, leaving the tying run on deck.

Mitchell starter Ryan Solimine posted his longest outing of the season, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits over 5.0 innings. He dropped to 0-1 on the year.

Both the Mariners and Seahawks were among the six teams from Region II that appeared in the first NCAA regional rankings, which were released on April 27. Also making the initial rankings were Eastern Connecticut State University, Endicott College, Rhode Island College and Roger Williams University.

Mitchell (23-10 overall) will look to get back on track at Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday, April 30 at noon.