Ida Baker continued its power surge Monday night, getting a solo blast from senior Miles Rubinski, along with three doubles. The visiting Port Charlotte Pirates got in their licks, too.

The Pirates roughed up the Bulldogs for four runs in the first inning and continued adding to their lead in a 9-4 victory.

Still, Bulldogs coach Chad Turner likes the way his team has played recently. The Bulldogs (6-8) scored 41 runs on 43 hits in three games last week, including a 17-16 win over Mariner, and have connected for eight home runs in the last four games.

“Lately, I’m feeling real good,” Turner said. “We had a real down during a five-game losing streak, but now I feel pretty good about the way we’re playing.”

The Bulldogs faced a difficult nondistrict test Monday against Port Charlotte (11-3) and falling behind 4-0 didn’t help matters.

Baker junior Rob Serrano started on the mound, but got in trouble early. He walked the first batter and after the Pirates loaded the bases, Rick Knapp delivered a two-run single and Daniel Schiller added a two-run double.

Baker threatened in the bottom of the first against the left-handed Schiller, but only managed one run. Jake York led off with a double and Blake Fraser followed with a single. Dustin Mishka picked up one RBI, but grounded into a double play.

Though the Bulldogs continued to deliver some big hits, they came in spurts and without enough baserunners.

They scored one run in each of the first three innings. Ryan Rogowski led off the second with a single and scored on an RBI by York. Rubinski’s sacrifice fly in the third scored Mishka.

Rubinski belted a solo home run in the fifth and Rogowski almost had one, doubling off the fence in the sixth, but the Bulldogs continued to trail.

“We didn’t have a lot of baserunners,” Turner said. “When we had the runners we didn’t come up with the hits and when we didn’t have anybody on we got the hits.”

Port Charlotte elected not to throw their top starter, senior David Holmberg, who has signed with the University of Florida. Holmberg, though, delivered a solo home run in the third.

Schiller shook off some early struggles and settled into more of a groove in the later innings. He had eight of his 11 strikeouts from the fourth inning on and only allowed two hits during that span.

Baker senior Richard Saracione came on in relief in the first inning and did his best in containing the Pirates. He struck out eight and only allowed two runs until the Pirates tacked on three more in top of the sixth.

The Bulldogs have a key District 5A-15 game Tuesday at Barron Collier.

Pt. Charlotte 401 013 0 – 9 11 1

Ida Baker 111 010 0 – 4 8 2

W – Daniel Schiller. L – Rob Serrano.

2B – Miles Rubinski (IB), Ryan Rogowski (IB), Jacob York (IB), Schiller (PC), Rick Knapp (PC), Yale Holton (PC). HR – David Holmberg (PC), Rubinski (IB).

Island Coast 17, East Lee County 4: Freshman Conner Hawk, a callup from the JV team before the game, doubled and tripled to spark Island Coast past East Lee County.

Taylor Renegar connected for a pair of doubles and drove in four runs for the Gators (8-6), who play at Charlotte Wednesday.

Island Coast 500 006 6 – 17 17 1

East Lee Co. 000 030 1 – 4 6 5

W – Kyle Harding (2-0). L – Rivera.

2B – Conner Hawk (IC), Taylor Renegar (IC) 2, Jordan Moody (IC). 3B – Conner Hawk (IC).

Softball

Cape Coral 5, Bishop Verot 4: Cape Coral erased a four-run deficit all at once with a five-run sixth-inning rally to upend Bishop Verot.

The Seahawks strung together five base hits around a hit batsman and a Verot throwing error to score their five runs. Tara Higgins (2-for-3) had one RBI and Cassie Maselter delivered the game-winning hit, a two-run single.

The Seahawks (5-9) host East Lee County Tuesday night.

Bishop Verot 000 202 0 – 4 6 3

Cape Coral 000 005 x – 5 9 1

W – Brenna Harkins. L – Hailey Baracco.

2B – Talia Baracco (BV), Lauren Blasingim (BV).

North Fort Myers 8, Gulf Coast 1: Lexi Schlotter and Micheala Schlotter delivered three base hits apiece while Kayla Ramey and Katrissa Rowell added two each to power North Fort Myers to victory at Gulf Coast.

Ramey finished with three RBI, Lexi Schlotter two and Rowell one RBI.

The Red Knights (15-1) visit Fort Myers Thursday night.

North FM 025 000 1 – 8 14 1

Gulf Coast000 001 0 – 1 2 3

W – Jackie Owen (13-1). L – Sam Katz.

3B – Allison Kennedy (NFM), Paige Engh (NFM).

Island Coast 23, East Lee County 0: Freshman Dana Ruff connected on an inside-the-park grand slam, and Island Coast throttled East Lee County.

While several players contributed offensively for the Gators, Frankie Ruffino led the defensive effort with two sparkling catches in left field. Morgan Stinnett picked up the win on the mound.

The Gators improved to 3-0 in varsity games and 14-0 overall.

Sports editor Jim Linette contributed to this report.