By Annie Papadellis/Web Reporter
HARWICH, Mass. – Two homers by Casey Gillaspie (Wichita State) and Troy Stein (Texas A&M) in the fifth sailed the Commodores (23-17) well past the Mariners (19-18) as they went on to pummel Harwich 13-1 on Wednesday night.
It certainly was the hot-hitting Commodores show as the team had fifteen hits on the night. Four out of the fifteen hits occurred in the top of the first for Falmouth, where they went ahead early with two runs to set an aggressive tone right off the bat. Dylan Davis (Oregon State) and Kevin Cron (TCU) racked their first RBIs of the outing, both bringing in runs with drives up the middle to center.
The game looked relatively even with solid pitching by both the Commodores and the Mariners, yet the Mariners defense imploded in the fifth inning, allowing six runs to come across for Falmouth.
Kevin Newman (Arizona) began the fifth with a single, and Rhys Hoskins (Sacramento State) followed with a walk to put runners on first and second for Gillaspie. Gillaspie crushed his eighth home run of the summer over the right field fence to increase the lead to five runs. Davis then launched one deep to center field for a stand up double, and Cron subsequently drove in Davis for the sixth run on the night for the Commodores. Stein further caused damage as he followed Cron with his second homer of the season well over the left field fence to increase the surplus by eight runs.
Falmouth showed no mercy, adding three more to the board in the sixth inning as Joe Maggi (Arizona) started the side advancing to second on an error by the left fielder. Leon Byrd Jr. (Rice) walked, and Newman singled to right to load the bases for Hoskins who then brought in the Maggi with a single to left. With the bases loaded, Gillaspie walked in the tenth run on the night. Davis followed hitting into a double play, but before Harwich could turn it, Newman was able to score the eleventh run for Falmouth.
The Commodores were absolutely ruthless to the Mariners as Falmouth capitalized on each opportunity that was handed to them. Falmouth tacked on two more runs in the top of the ninth to secure the 13-1 lead.
They say the best defense is a good offense, and that was undoubtedly the case at Whitehouse Field on Wednesday. The bats lit up for the Commodores; yet not only was the team hot at the plate, they were also outstanding on the mound. John Means (West Virginia) had an impeccable performance surrendering only one hit and striking out seven over six innings of work to earn his third win on the summer. Garrett Cleavinger (Oregon) and Brent Stong (Bradley) in relief combined to pitch three full innings allowing three hits, one run, and striking out four.
The next game is away at McKeon Park where the Commodores will take on the Western Division first place contender, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks (23-15) for the final time this regular summer season. The first pitch is set for 6:00pm (EST).
The Commodores Corner 