SANFORD — Chalk up the recent Sanford Mainers loss to the North Shore Navigators as a case of the Mondays.

However, that case may be reaching a week long status or more.

The Mainers were defeated 7-2 in front of 424 fans at Goodall Park on Monday night. Sanford is now only half a game above the surging Navigators in the NECBL Eastern Division Standings.

Sanford (11-8) has played 10 games in 10 days, and have five more days of games before catching a break on July 4. Mainers manager Aaron Izaryk said he hopes the 4-6 record Sanford has had in that stretch has not been because of fatigue.

“You would hope not,” Izaryk said. “We have 27 guys here. Guys are getting full days off, (Pat) Cantwell had a full day off today. Doug (Eliot) almost had a full day off. Our bullpen has been on and off. I would hope not. Mentally, I think we need to a better job of separating the ball games, don’t let one day roll into the next, good or bad. Sometimes when you’re playing ball you go through the motions, and you show up when you win, and when you lose, you search for answers. I think for us, we just need to make sure that if we have a bad day individually, we’ve got to put a plan together to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

The loss on Monday was the effect of one bad inning, when the Navigators collected four runs and five hits in the third inning, all with two outs. After picking up two quick outs, Sanford starter Kyle Davis ran into trouble with the top of the North Shore lineup, giving up an RBI single to Tyler Kuehl, followed by a two-run double down the left field line by Matt Avery, as well as an RBI single by Ben Waldrip two batters later to make the score 4-0.

Davis, who has been mostly used out of the bullpen this year, was effective throughout the rest of his outing, allowing two more hits and not allowing another run, while striking out two batters.

While the Mainers collected nine hits, Sanford had trouble pushing runners across the plate, leaving a total of 10 runners on base. Sanford outfielder Bobby Doyon and second baseman Joe Wendle were the lone bright spots offensively. Doyon went 4 for 4, including a double, and Wendle went 2 for 4, including a triple. Mainers shortstop Brett Mollenhauer provided the lone RBI on an RBI double in the third inning. Wendle scored on a wild pitch after his triple in the eighth inning.

North Shore starter Daniel Patrick gave up one run in four innings pitched. Dylan Hochever picked up the win with three innings of relief. With the win, North Shore is now 8-2 in its past 10 games, including a three-game win streak.

“Give credit to them, they did a nice job,” Izaryk said. “Their starting pitcher did a nice job. He can out early, but their bullpen picked them up.”

Sanford hits the road to play against the New Bedford Bay Sox tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Short Hops:

By going 4 for 4, Doyon raised his batting average 61 points, coming into the contest with a .194 batting average and leaving at .255. One of the challenges for Doyon, who hit .399 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs for Division III Keene State College this spring, was facing pitchers from Divisions I through III in the NECBL. Doyon said he’s had both peaks and valleys so far this season.

“It’s highs and lows,” Doyon said. “Overall, I’m just getting used to it, seeing it on a daily basis. It’s just starting to get more normal. I’m just settling in, trying not to over-think it.”

Mike McCann, one of the Mainers top hitters, returned to the lineup after missing a week of games due to a hamstring injury. McCann was eased back into the lineup Monday, as he was used as a designated hitter, and was given a pinch runner when he reached first base on an error in the sixth inning.

Sanford swimmer Jenni Roberts threw out the first pitch before the start of the game. Roberts, who recently graduated, will attend and compete for the University of Maryland this fall.