Gallery: Stoughton High Baseball Falls to Mansfield in Late Innings

With the Stoughton High baseball team trailing 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning against visiting Mansfield Wednesday afternoon, freshman Jake Gibb belted a triple deep to centerfield to lead off the bottom of the fifth. 

One batter later, Pat Raeke was retired on a squeeze play, but the sacrifice brought bring Gibb home from third to tie the score 1-1.

But, Mansfield countered with three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 4-1 lead, ultimately winning the game by that same score. 

With the loss, Stoughton falls to 6-5 on the season, while Mansfield improves to 5-6.

"Mansfield made some more plays than we did," Stoughton coach Mike Armour said. 

Stoughton starter Mike Dixon battled through the first two innings, but then settled down to go 5 and 2/3 innings. He allowed just one run over the first five innings before Mansfield added three in the sixth inning. 

Zach Gibb came on in relief and recorded the last four outs for Stoughton.

"Dixon got in some trouble early. Could have been a short day, but he gutted it out the first couple of innings [and only allowed] one run. Could have been worse. Then he settled down," Armour said.

Pat Jackman singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and reached second on an error in the outfield, but Mansfield pitcher Jeff Perillo retired the next three batters to end the inning, and sent Stoughton down in order in the bottom of the seventh to give Mansfield the win.

"I'm a little disappointed in our fight today," Armour said. "Was hoping we could show a little more battle."

The loss snaps Stoughton's three-game win streak, but the Black Knights will look to get back in the win column when they travel to North Attleboro on Friday.