As far as the Mariner Tritons were concerned, the Port Charlotte Pirates were like a bad penny – they just kept coming back.

The Tritons responded to the Pirates’ three-run rally in the sixth inning with a three-run rally of their own to pull out a 6-5 victory Thursday night at Mariner.

“Every little mistake we made, they capitalized on,” said Tritons coach Steve Larsen. “We are not executing at all like we should.”

Leading 2-1 in the top of the fourth, the Tritons went under the gun. The bottom of the Pirates batting order loaded the bases with one out against Tritons senior starter Kevin Cavanagh, who coaxed a strikeout and a fly ball to end the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, the Tritons added a run to take a 3-1 lead. Ryan Gage walked to lead off the inning. Jason Carmichael’s bunt single put runners at first and second. Gage scored when Tyler Bender bunted and the Pirates threw wildly trying to make a play on Gage at third base.

The Tritons’ precarious lead lasted until the top of the sixth when the bottom of the Pirates’ order again plugged away. Bender relieved Cavanagh to start the inning. After a leadoff single and a Tritons throwing error, the first run scored on a fielder’s choice forceout at second base. Bender hit consecutive batters with pitches to load the bases. Carmichael relieved Bender, who retired just one of five batters faced.

A squeeze bunt single and a single to center plated two runs to put the Pirates (0-6) in front 4-3, but Carmichael struck out the next batter and induced a flyout to right to the ninth batter of the inning to end the rally.

Bender walked to open the Tritons’ game-winning rally in the sixth. After Alex Santana singled to right, sending Bender to third, a balk allowed Bender to score the tying run and Santana scored from third two batters later on a wild pitch.

With the bases loaded and no outs, the Tritons’ first strikeouts came on either side of Ryan Hutson’s sacrifice fly that plated Cavanagh with what proved to be the decisive run.

A leadoff single in the seventh led to the Pirates’ final run. Nick Agosto took second when his hit was misplayed in the outfield and scored two batters later on Dylan Lundblad’s single to center. Carmichael struck out the final two batters to preserve the one-run victory.

The Tritons (5-2) host Dunbar Friday night.

Pt. Charlotte001 003 1 – 5 10 4

Mariner101 103 x – 6 8 4

W – Carmichael (1-1). L – Treasure.

3B – Santana (M).

Ida Baker 19, East Lee County 0: Zach Nason drove in four runs with a pair of hits and Caleb Farmer drove in three runs, including a two-run home run, to power Ida Baker to victory over East Lee County.

Johnathan Angelo and Stephen Nason each contrbuted two hits toward the Bulldogs’ 17-hit assault.

Michael Watson and Billy Larrimore combined to pitch five innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 10 batters.

The Bulldogs (5-4) play at Mariner Tuesday.

East Lee Co.000 00 – 0 2 4

Ida Baker615 7x – 19 17 0

W – Watson (1-1). L – n/a.

2B – Placher (IB), Angelo (IB), Z. Nason (IB). HR – Farmer (IB).

Island Coast 10, Fort Myers 3: Island Coast struck for five runs in the first inning that sparked a victory at Fort Myers.

Kameron Gellinger led off the game with a single, was sacrificed to second and scores on Taylor Renegar’s RBI double to ignite the rally. The Gators strung together three straight singles and Pablo Matos finished off the rally with a two-run single down the third base line.

Taylor Renegar, Chase Vogelbach, Randy Petito and Matos each contributed a pair of hits. Jordan Moody added three hits.

“For the first time in two weeks I can go home with a smile on my face,” said Gators coach Clinton Montgomery. “We had been going through the motions, but tonight we played a good game offensively, defensively and pitching. I’m proud of the boys.”

Tanner Renegar (1-1) pitched five innings, allowing five hits while striking out six to earn his first win of the season.

The Gators (7-1) host Cypress Lake on Wednesday.

Island Coast520 011 1 – 10 12 2

Fort Myers000 110 1 – 3 7 3

W – Tan. Renegar (1-1). L – Sanger.

2B – Sanger (FM), Tay. Renegar (IC), Vogelbach (IC).