A seventh-inning rally came up one run shy, and the Oak Harbor High School baseball team lost 5-4 at Ferndale Thursday, April 2, in a non-league game.

The win lifted the Golden Eagles’ record to 8-1; Oak Harbor slipped to 2-2.

The Wildcats open conference play at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 3, at home with Marysville Getchell (4-1).

Oak Harbor couldn’t quite catch Ferndale.

Down 3-0 heading into the sixth inning, the Wildcats scored two runs to get within one. Ferndale tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, and Oak Harbor again came up one run short with two runs in the seventh.

In the Wildcats’ seventh, Dylan Bailey walked, and, with one out, scored on Chris Trisler’s double. Brent Mertins then singled in Trisler. Mertins reached second, but a fly out and strikeout ended the game.

Oak Harbor starter Trent Benson held the Golden Eagles in check until the fourth with the help of two doubles plays.

A walk and three straight hits, two which drove in runs, chased Benson in the fourth.

Kevyn Johnson took over, and the Golden Eagles scored a third run with a hit and error.

Two hits, two walks and a ground out helped Ferndale score its final two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the sixth, Oak Harbor finally got to Ferndale starter Miguel Mungarro. Trisler singled but was thrown out trying to stretch the base hit into a double. That came back to haunt Oak Harbor, as Mertins followed with a double and Danny Wolfe singled. After an error loaded the bases, consecutive ground outs by Tyler Snavely and Quentin Tungate plated runs.

Mertins ended the day 2-for-3 with a double, run, RBI and walk. Trisler was 2-for-4 with a double, run and RBI.

Steve Richards and Sean Erskine also had base hits for Oak Harbor.