Commodores Winning Streak is Up, 4-2 Loss to Cotuit

Colleen Loftus/Web Reporter

The Commodores’ winning streak ended earlier tonight when Falmouth fell to Cotuit 4-2. Despite totaling an even number of hits, errors and poor luck at the plate kept Falmouth in a deficit for nine innings.

Falmouth’s routine of scoring early did not surface tonight. In fact, the Commodores were retired within three batters for the first three innings. They did not find open spots to place their hits, popping out for five of their nine outs. Cotuit’s starting pitcher Luke Leftwich (Wofford) struck out only one batter during his 3.2 innings on the mound.

The Kettleers drew first blood in the bottom of the third. With two outs in the inning, Jordan Ebert (Auburn) approached the plate with runners on first and second. He singled to short, but managed to reach second off an error by Commodores shortstop Kevin Newman (Arizona). Both runners on base advanced home to score off Newman’s error, giving the Kettleers a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth.

Falmouth fought to stay in the game in the following inning. Steven Duggar (Clemson) stole his only base of the night as he took second with Newman at the plate. With runners on the corners, Cameron O’Brien (West Virginia) poked a RBI single to right field and brought Duggar home from third. The Commodores trailed by one and hoped to get back into their hitting streak mentality.

Unfortunately for Falmouth, however, Cotuit continued their own hitting streak in the bottom of the fourth. With Brendan Hendricks (San Francisco) at the plate, Rhett Wiseman (Vanderbilt) stole second with two outs in the inning. An error by catcher O’Brien sent Wiseman to third, and another error by center fielder Sam Gillikin (Auburn) allowed Wiseman to slide home with ease. The Kettleers extended their lead to 3-1, with the Commodores struggling handle the ball well across the diamond. Cotuit scored their last run in the bottom of the sixth, as Wiseman knocked a RBI single to right-center field. The Commodores trailed 4-1, and appeared desperate to get their game going.

What they mustered was not enough, despite their back-to-back hits in the top of the eighth. Conner Hale (Louisiana State) sacrificed an infield ball to bring Matt Eureste (San Jacinto) home from third, slightly closing the score gap to 4-2. Unfortunately, the Commodores ended the game the way they began it; they were retired in three batters in the top of the ninth to give the Kettleers the 4-2 win.

Eureste stood out as a player who managed to connect at the dish, going three for four and knocking out two singles and one double. Relief pitcher Travis Stout (Jacksonville State) recorded the only strikeout of the evening in the bottom of the eighth, catching Logan Taylor (Texas A&M) swinging as the last batter for the Kettleers. Falmouth totaled eight hits in 33 at-bats, and now continue on with a 16-13-3 record.

Falmouth will travel to Wareham on Friday, July 18, 2014, for a 7:00 p.m. game. For more information, visit the Falmouth Commodores website at www.falmouthcommodores.com.