Mercer Island junior Chris Black has been one of the most consistent starters for the high school baseball team. That consistency was on display Thursday night as Black baffled Liberty hitters for six innings and no earned runs at Island Crest Park. But the problem Thursday was the defense behind the right handed junior. Mercer Island gave up five unearned runs during the game, dropping its sixth in-league game in a row 7-5.

“This is devastating,” said Black. “But we showed that we can compete with other teams and we played pretty well. But we can play better.”

The Islander woes were not just on defense as they left runners in scoring position during every inning except the first and the seventh.

Mercer Island got on the board first during the bottom of the fourth inning. Islander Andrew Higgins’ base hit to right field, which snuck by the defensive player, allowed Joey Scalzo to sprint from second across home plate. The hit by Higgins was one of three during the game. The junior became the first Islander this season to record three hits in one game.

A bunt base-hit later and the Islanders had a runner in scoring position with two outs. But one theme would persist as the runner was stranded at second in scoring position.

“We need to be able to sustain our energy for seven innings,” said Mercer Island coach Brian Potoshnik. “They are starting to play hard for each other but we have to have more consistency.”

A lack of consistency bit the Islanders on defense during the fifth inning. Black settled down to earn two big outs after issuing a lead-off walk. But an error by the Islanders kept the inning alive for the Patriots. A triple and two base hits later and the visiting team took the lead 3-1.

But the Islanders muted the momentum by the Patriots during the bottom of the inning as James Hotson sent a long line-drive hit to the fence 330 feet away from home plate. The blast scored Ben Shoemaker from second to cut the lead to one run.

Black began the sixth inning with a strikeout, throwing just 14 pitches to record three consecutive outs. The Islanders completed the mini comeback during the bottom of the inning as a base hit and a walk were aided by a Liberty balk, putting both runners in scoring position. Senior second baseman Ben Corson came to the plate and sent a hard hit back at the pitcher, over second and into center field to score both runners. The hit gave Mercer Island a 4-3 lead.

But Black would not see the mound again as Potoshnik decided to go with the fresh arm of Hotson for the save attempt.

“Hotson has been throwing well,” said Potoshnik. “Chris was getting up in the zone and they had their big lefty hitters coming up.”

Black had confidence in his teammate.

“I really wanted to go back out there but I thought Hotson could get it done,” said Black. “But we just can’t field.”

Another Islander error led to the tying run as the game went into extra innings. A three-run eighth inning seemed to sink Mercer Island, but the players stayed aggressive during their final at bats against the Patriot’s sixth pitcher of the game. Mercer Island loaded the bases with no outs, scored one run on a Black sacrifice fly, but could not get any more runners home.

“Chris pitched beautifully tonight and we should have made the plays behind him,” said Potoshnik. “If we can just get a win I think we will be in good shape.”

That statement rings true. The Islanders have been down by less than three runs during the fifth inning during five of their six- game losing streak. Mercer Island will have plenty of chances to make up ground as they play three of the teams immediately in front of them in the standings over the next four games.

“We are still not out of it,” said Potoshnik. “Being 18 years old the losses will wear on them but the competitive nature is starting to come out in these kids.”

The loss to Liberty came on the heels of a 5-0 loss to Skyline April 10.

Mercer Island will host Sammamish at 5:30 p.m. tonight at Islander Crest Park and Mount Si at 6:30 p.m. Friday.