Nansemond-Suffolk’s baseball squad hit the ball well enough Monday at Churchland for one comeback attempt. The Saints couldn’t keep up with the host Truckers all afternoon though as Churchland pulled away after a 7-7 tie in the fourth inning for a 17-7 win in six innings.

On a team with only two seniors and most of the pitching being done by freshmen or sophomores, the Saints have experienced a prime example of an up-and-down season.

Monday’s loss dropped NSA to 6-7 overall. NSA’s record includes good victories over good programs, such as last Friday’s 6-5, eight-inning win over Hampton Christian; and lopsided losses, such as the night before facing Hampton Christian, a 17-0 loss to Norfolk Collegiate, and the afternoon after the Hampton Christian game, an 11-1 loss at St. Christopher’s.

Monday’s contest had ups and downs for the Saints all by itself.

The Saints answered after giving up five runs in the Trucker first, rallying twice from four runs down to tie the game with fundamental offense through the first four innings.

On the other hand, Churchland overpowered the Saints with 10 unanswered runs to finish the game.

NSA stayed in the game for the first four innings by taking advantage of each chance to score.

In the first, Jacob Laine drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Groundouts by the next two Saint hitters, Tripp Kretz and Anthony Waldner, moved Laine around and in.

After falling behind 5-1, NSA got a two-out, two-RBI single by Laine in the second.

In the Saint third, Martin Terwilliger doubled to the left-center field fence to score Waldner.

In the fourth, Brian Vincent walked and Zach Edwards singled to start the inning. Marcus Welsh, attempting to bunt the runners up a base, placed his bunt between the pitcher and third baseman for a hit.

Laine, NSA’s freshman leadoff hitter, lined a double into left-center field to score two runs, giving Laine four RBI for the day.

NSA’s rally could’ve been larger, but a hard liner by Kretz turned into a line out to the third baseman and a double play at third. Waldner singled up the middle to score Laine and make it a 7-7 score.

Churchland kept putting runs on the board in big numbers. Taylor Edens lasted on the mound for the Saints until the Trucker fourth. Craig Owens came on in relief, but couldn’t do much either to limit the Truckers.

The regular season wraps up this week for the Saints (6-7, 4-3) with two Tidewater Conference games. NSA plays at Bishop Sullivan Catholic Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. and hosts Greenbrier Christian Thursday at 4:30 p.m.