LACONIA MUSKRAT’S DANNY COLLINS, right, is congratulated by teammates Ethan Bennett (18) and Nick Camastro (4) after hitting a two-run homer against the Newport Gulls during NECBL action at Robbie Mills Field in Laconia on Saturday evening. DARYL CARLSON / FOR THE CITIZEN LACONIA — The Muskrats are getting good at nailbiters this summer.

Regan Flaherty walked with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to break a tie game and lift the Muskrats past Newport, 5-4, on Saturday.

The Muskrats became the first team to beat the Gulls in 2012. Laconia improved to 4-3, while Newport fell to 4-1.

In a back-and-forth game, Laconia tied it up at 4-4 in the seventh with an RBI single from John Polonius (West Virginia). It was his second of the game and league-leading 10th of the season.

Flaherty’s bases-loaded walk pushed across Tyler Jackson for the winning run. That allowed Nic Manuppelli (Youngstown St.) to convert his third save of the summer with a strike out and a pair of fly outs.

Danny Collins (Troy) hit his third home run of the summer for the Muskrats. All three have come at home. He finished 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs hitting in the No. 3 spot.

Collins was named player of the week by the NECBL this weekend. He’s hitting .517 this summer.

Kyle Mullen pitched well in the start for Laconia. The righty out of St. Joseph’s struck out eight in seven innings of work. He allowed nine hits, four runs (two earned) and didn’t walk a batter.

Mullen has a league-high 17 strikeouts in 13 innings of work.

Despite Mullen’s strong start, relief pitcher Tim Swatek recorded the win. He struck out one and allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth inning.

Polonius went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs for Laconia. Polonius bumped his average up to .423 this season.

Jackon, who hit fifth, went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

It was the Gulls’ first visit to Laconia since they were eliminated in the first round of the 2011 playoffs.

Laconia will meet Newport again on Monday, in Rhode Island.

Matt Aldrich is scheduled to start on the hill for Laconia.