BEVERLY, Mass. -- The Bates baseball team grabbed an early lead, but No. 5 nationally ranked Endicott showed why they hold such a high ranking on Wednesday as they defeated the Bobcats 20-2 in a non-conference game.

The Gulls (6-1) scored eight runs in the fifth inning to run away from the Bobcats. 

Bates (1-5) got on the board in the top of the first. Junior Jack Margiloff (Rye, N.Y.) singled to lead off the game and stole second base. Senior captain Brandon Biggane (Rensselaer, N.Y.) reached on an error, advancing Margiloff to third. Then junior Gibby Sullivan (Yarmouth, Maine) lined out to left, scoring Margiloff and putting the Bobcats up 1-0.

Endicott responded by loading the bases with nobody out in the first on a hit-by-pitch, a double, and a single. Another hit-by-pitch followed by a walk put the Gulls up 2-1. TJ Liponis followed with a two-RBI single and Endicott led 4-1. The first inning could have been worse if not for junior catcher Liam Yardley (Keene, N.H.) throwing a runner out trying to steal third, and Margiloff delivering a strong throw to first-year Tyler Tucker (Hamilton, N.J.) on a single to left, which Tucker relayed to Yardley for the final out of the frame.

Down by three, Bates threatened in the top of the second. Yardley led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, sophomore Keagan Ryan (Salem, N.H.) singled him to third, but Endicott starter Nicholas Cannata was able to get out of the inning unscathed. 

Bates junior RHP Diego Sarabia (Mableton, Ga.) worked a scoreless second inning and Biggane drew a one-out walk in the top of the third. But a double play ending the inning.

The Gulls started to pull away with one run in the third and one more in the fourth on a solo home run by Joey Frammartino.

But it was the fifth inning that really put the game out of reach for rhe visitors. Three hit by pitches, two walks, and two errors in the frame doomed Bates, as Endicott scored eight runs on four hits.

Bates pitching walked three more batters in the sixth as Endicott added six more runs on six hits.

Senior LHP Matthew Shrake (Chicago) allowed one inherited runner to score, but in general provided some much-needed relief down the stretch, tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless ball. 

The Bobcats tallied their second run of the game in the top of the eighth. Ryan doubled to start the frame and came around to score on a double by Biggane.

The Gulls finished with 21 hits while the Bobcats tallied six hits on the afternoon. Ryan led the way for Bates, going 2-4 with a double and a run scored. Charlie Hale (2-1) worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to get the win for Endicott, while Sarabia (0-1) took the loss, pitching four innings for Bates and giving up six runs on nine hits.

The Bobcats have their home opener scheduled for Thursday afternoon against Plymouth State. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at Leahey Field.