OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Just when it seems there’s no new way for the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide to lose, another way presents itself.

A two-error play in the top of the eighth inning sent the Tide to its 10th straight loss, this time losing 4-1 to the Keene Swamp Bats on Sunday night in front of 430 fans at The Ballpark.

Old Orchard is now 1-10, having won its only game during opening day on June 10 in a 5-4 win over the Laconia Muskrats.

“We got good pitching today, and our offense has been good all year, I think,” Tide outfielder Matt Marquis said. “Today, they shut us down [on offense] and we couldn’t get the win. If we could connect the two and play the game good on both sides, we’ll be fine. We’ve got to get them clicking. We’ve got to get it going on both sides.”

For seven innings, the Tide had the perfect combination of hitting and pitching, thanks to a solo home run from Marquis in the fifth inning, and six innings of strong pitching from hurler Rich Anastasi.

Both teams went back and forth through four scoreless innings before the Swamp Bats struck first in the top of the fifth. Brett DeLoach led off the inning with a single, stole second base moments later, and moved to third on a passed ball. Two batters later, DeLoach scored on an RBI single by Colby May, giving Keene a 1-0 lead.

But the lead didn’t last long. Marquis walked to the plate to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and two pitches later, launched a fastball deep into the woods over the left-field wall, tying the score at 1-1.

“In my first (at-bat), I took a good swing on a slider, so he got behind on me in that at-bat,” Marquis said. “I figured he would try to challenge me with a fastball, so I was ready for it.”

Mike Hepple relieved Anastasi (Fordham University) in the seventh inning, after Anastasi allowed one run on six hits and two strikeouts.

Keene outfielder Mark Podlas led off the inning with a walk. Moments later, Podlas took off for second base on a steal attempt, and the throw from Tide catcher Stephen Wadsworth sailed into center field, allowing Podlas to take off toward third base. Old Orchard center fielder Billy Berezniewicz attempted to throw Podlas out at third, but the ball skipped out of play, allowing Podlas to score on a dead ball, giving the Swamp Bats a 2-1 lead.

Hepple, an Eastern Connecticut State hurler, was saddled with the loss.

Hunter Gordon replaced Hepple in the ninth inning, but Kevin Brown led the inning off with a single, and catcher Brett DeLoach followed two batters later with an RBI triple over the head of Berezniewicz in deep center field.

DeLoach scored moments later on a wild pitch from Old Orchard reliever Oliver Van Zandt, sealing the 4-1 win.

Berezniewicz led the Tide offensively, going 2 for 4, and has an NECBL-best .480 batting average.

Offensively, Old Orchard is one of the best hitting teams in the NECBL, with a cumulative batting average of .267. However, the pitching staff has been struggling early this season, as the group has a team ERA of 6.53. Old Orchard has taken the lead early in many contests this season, but can’t close out a win.

“All of our games have been close, we’ve been staying in all our ballgames,” Marquis said. “We’ve got to get timely hits and good pitching, and we haven’t had those yet.”

The Raging Tide are back in action on Tuesday, hosting the North Adams SteepleCats. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

NOTES: Old Orchard catcher Fran Whitten was named the NECBL Player of the Week, as he hit .458 with two home runs, three doubles and seven RBIs. Both of Whitten’s home runs were hit against the Danbury Westerners on Saturday. Whitten hit five home runs during the spring for the University of Maine ”¦ With six innings of work, Anastasi had the longest outing of any Raging Tide pitcher this season ”¦ Raging Tide announcer Sal Accardi and Swamp Bats announcer Alex Birsh will both join forces to do the broadcast of the Team NECBL vs. Team USA exhibition at Fenway Park this afternoon for the NECBL Network. Shortstop Mike Fransoso will represent the Raging Tide on Team NECBL, while Mike Montville, Paul Kronenfeld and A.J. Bazdanes will represent the Sanford Mainers.

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 ext. 318 or follow on Twitter @Dave_Dyer.