FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Dunkirk baseball fell behind early on Tuesday, but despite battling back to a tie, was unable to claim the lead and lost to North Moore 6-5.

The Marauders trailed 4-0 after two innings of action and then began to claw back into the game.

Dunkirk first got on the board in the third inning when Gabe Valentine reached the bases being hit by a pitch, he stole second and was sacrificed to third before scoring on a fielder’s choice by Paul Trippy.

Dunkirk added two more runs when Henry Leone walked and Jon Ganey reached from another hit by pitch. Leone scored when Dylan Bankoski knocked him home with a single and then pinch runner Greg Orcutt finished Ganey’s work by scoring on an error made by the North Moore shortstop.

The Marauders tied the game at 5-5 in the fifth inning when Donnie Jackson hit a two-run homer that scored him and Trippy. North Moore added another run, but Dunkirk was unable to add anything after the Jackson home run.

Dunkirk put the tying run on second in the seventh inning, but both batters were retired by strikeouts, dropping the contest 6-5.

“We need to execute,” Dunkirk head coach Frank Jagoda stated. “So far we have been in every game and the little things in each game, if executed properly, would have given us three wins. Instead we are 1-2.”

Dunkirk’s offense was led by Josh Lemanski and Jackson both collecting two RBIs.

Bankoski started the game on the hill, throwing the first 2 2/3 innings with one strikeout and gave up five runs. Anthony Cosme came in relief and pitched three strong innings with two strikeouts and two walks.

Dunkirk’s final bit of action will take place on Friday in a doubleheader against Xaverian Varsity Clippers.