SANFORD — The Sanford Mainers went into Wednesday night’s game on the losing end of their last two games, while the Ocean State Waves came in on the other side of the coin, winning their last two. Both teams received stellar pitching efforts from their starters ”“ Rich Vrana for Sanford and Eliot native Luke Fernandes for the Waves ”“ but it was the local kid who got the last laugh over the local team, as Ocean State came away with a 4-2 victory in an NECBL game at Goodall Park.

Fernandes was on point for the Waves, allowing just two hits while striking out six over six innings.

The Mainers finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh with Fernandes out of the game, after throwing 77 pitches. Mike Castellani gave up a one-out infield single to Stevie Berman, then Kendall Patrick shot a single to right field. Berman advanced to third on the play, with Patrick taking second on the throw. Sam Balzano came in to pinch hit for Matt Pagano and promptly lined a ball to left field for an RBI-single, plating Berman and putting the Mainers up 1-0.

Matt Rescigno struck out swinging, but Drake Parker smacked a liner to center field and brought home Patrick, pushing the lead to 2-0. Parker was caught stealing by Waves catcher Ethan Ferreira, however, to end a productive inning.

The Mainers bullpen was tested after Vrana left after five innings. Jake Marks pitched a scoreless sixth, and Ryan Johnson kept his ERA at 0.00 despite walking two batters, but did get one strikeout in his scoreless seventh. Nick Poore was brought on in the eighth, but only lasted for one out when an errant high throw from Berman the catcher caused Poore to leap and land awkwardly. Poore was replaced by Tyler Barss.

Barss closed out the eighth successfully, but the Waves found offensive momentum against him in the top of the ninth, bringing in four runs, three of them earned, to take a 4-2 lead. Mike Bunal replaced Barss and walked a batter, but recorded the final two outs in the top of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Mainers went down quietly, as Oliver Powers came in to close out the come-from-behind win for Ocean State.

The Mainers fall to 4-5 on the season, and the Waves improve to 6-2.