NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Although they were outhit, the Sanford Mainers (16-13) continued their winning ways, defeating the New Bedford Bay Sox (12- 16) 4-2 Thursday night at Paul Walsh Field, earning sole possession of first place in the Northern Division.

The Mainers scored everything they would need in the top half of the first, eventually scoring three times in the frame. Ako Thomas (Michigan) led off the game with a walk, as Shaine Hughes (Monmouth) and Todd Czinege (Villanova) followed him with singles to load up the bases for Chris Gaetano (Monmouth). Gaetano grounded into a fielder’s choice to make it 1-0, before Tristan Chari (Vanderbilt) knocked in two with single to make it 3-0.

New Bedford starter Nick Miceli (Wesleyan) settled in after a rocky first, eventually going six innings, as he allowed four hits, three runs, two earned, a walk and seven strike outs. Despite the great start, Miceli took the loss.

The Bay Sox threatened and scored twice in the fifth, in their biggest offensive inning of the night. With the score 3-1, T.J. Dixon (Samford) singled in Chandler Debrosse (Central Connecticut State) to make it 3-2. Ted Shaw (Sacred Heart) singled with Dixon at second base later in the inning, only for Dixon to be cut down at the plate on a perfect throw from Mainers’ center fielder Jordan Powell (Rhode Island).

Mike Landestoy (Texas Christian) knocked in the Mainers insurance in the seventh, scoring Michael Young (Massachusetts Lowell) all the way from first base on a pinch-hit double to bring the game to its final score.

Throughout the entire affair the Mainers pitching staff was rock solid. Starter Nick Kuzia (Massachusetts Lowell) went five innings, allowing six hits, two runs, two earned, two walks and three strike outs in the win. Troy Miller (Michigan) got the hold in an inning-and-two-thirds of relief work, and Dalton Curtis (Lipscomb) earned the save in the ninth.

Sanford returns home to face the Winnipesaukee Muskrats tonight, in their second visit to Goodall Park.