GROTON, Conn. — An early pitching duel turned into an offensive showing in the middle innings as a four-run fifth inning was too much to overcome for the Sanford Mainers (2-2), who fell to the Mystic Schooners (4-1) by a 5-2 score Thursday night.

Sanford starter Brandon Bingel exchanged scoreless frames with Schooners starter Trey Gonzalez for the first three innings before Bingel allowed a run in the bottom of the fourth. The Mainers bats answered in the top of the fifth, courtesy of back-to-back run scoring singles from Nate Stepna and Robbie Knightes, giving the Mainers a 2-1 lead.

In the fifth, Bingel ran into trouble, loading the bases with two outs before exiting the game. The Schooners plated four runs in the frame, highlighted by a Dan Hoy two-out, bases-clearing double off Aaron Casper to break open the game, 5-2.

The Mainers rallied in the eighth inning with the tying run at the plate with one out. But a spectacular inning-ending double play by Mystic third baseman John Brucker ended the biggest threat Sanford produced in the final innings of the contest.

The middle of the lineup for the Mainers was hitless, going 0-for-11 with a walk in the loss. Mike Mastroberti continued his hot hitting, collecting two more hits Thursday, making it back-to-back multiple hit games for the middle infielder.

The Mainers return to action tonight with a visit to the Danbury Westerners, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.