By Zane Moses
The Falmouth Commodores lost their first game on Sunday in a double header against the Chatham Anglers by a score of 6-4. The Commodores were down big early and were never able to crawl back into the game, despite their ability to manufacture runs.
First baseman JJ Matejevic continued to swing a hot bat as he smoked a single to right field in the top of the second and later came around to score on an error by the Angler first baseman. Falmouth took the early lead in this game 1-0.
In the bottom of the second inning the Anglers got four hits and managed to push across four runs, the Commodores lost the lead and found themselves behind 4-1.
The designated hitter Nick Lovullo (Holy Cross) struck back with a home run to left field in the third inning.
Unfortunately the home run was negated by another Angler run scored in the bottom of the third inning off of two hits. Again, with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, the Anglers were able to score a run with back to back singles. After four the score was 6-2.
The Commodores were able to scratch home two runs when two separate wild pitches scored second baseman Andrew Snow (Arizona State) and third baseman Tate Blackman (Ole Miss), closing the gap to 6-4 in the fifth. That score lasted throughout the rest of the seven inning game.
On the offensive side of the ball the Commodores are improving their situational hitting. In the past two games they have only left five total runners on base, as opposed to the 16 they left on base in the two games prior.
The starting pitcher Stephan Villines (Kansas), who normally operates in the closing role, threw the ball in the zone for the Anglers and they were able to take advantage, getting five runs, four of them earned, on six hits.
Relief pitcher Morgan Earman (Arizona) did well to stop the bleeding, giving up only one run and two hits. Earman has thrown twice this season, and both times the Commodores were down by three or more runs. Being behind allows a relief pitcher to throw without the added pressure of maintaining a lead, according to Earman.
“Coming in when you’re down you’ve got really nothing to lose,” Earman said, “You just kind of try to keep as many zeros on the board as you can.”
Earman was able to keep two zeros on the board but the Commodore hitters were not able to make up the difference.
The Commodores are set to play in their second game against Chatham at 6:30 on Sunday, and they are hoping for a more favorable result. For more information about the Falmouth Commodores, visit the team’s website at http://www.falmouthcommodores.com.
The Commodores Corner 