By Josh Eastern
CHATHAM – The Falmouth Commodores came to Veterans Field Friday night leading the Cape Cod League in home runs.
After three more home runs, the Commodores extended their league lead to 17. Two of those home runs came in the first inning before Falmouth got an out and the third came in the 8th inning. It was Hunter Steinmetz (Missouri State) with a two-run shot, Oregon State’s Trevor Larnach (Oregon State) with a three-run shot in his 2017 debut, and Zeke Dodson (Lipscomb) with a solo shot.
The Commodores used the long ball once again to their advantage to beat the Chatham Anglers, 8-3, and win their fourth straight game Friday night at Veterans Field in Chatham, Massachusetts.
“Really proud of our guys with the approach they came out with,” Commodores hitting coach Hunter Morris said. “Any time you can jump to an early lead, five runs in the first inning, is huge setting the tone. Nights like that sure make your job a lot easier.”
The Commodores wasted no time in getting to Chatham starter Josh Perkins (Stetson). Falmouth saw five batters come to the plate before they even recorded an out. Right from the get-go, the Commodores were in command. The five first inning runs would be the only runs they needed all night, but they continued to add on as the game progressed.
Larnach said jokingly during batting practice that it felt like he hadn’t swung a bat in a while. That may have been the case since Oregon State was eliminated from the College World Series about a week ago. When he stepped up to the plate in the first inning, there were no signs of that.
“They always say that when you’re having a tough BP you get all of your knocks out of the way,” Larnach said. “It’s just sort of a mindset thing. You go up there thinking you’re one of the best here and it pays dividends.”
The hitting was there all night long as the Commodores pounded out 16 hits. However, the pitching flew under the radar allowing the Anglers to push across just three runs. Tyler Blohm (Maryland) got the start and lasted four innings giving up one run on two hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
After Blohm was finished, the bullpen went five innings giving up two runs on three hits while striking out two and walking one. Connor Eason (Seminole State) became the pitcher of record and ended up getting the win. Will Ethridge (Ole Miss) and Ian Koch (Western Illinois) followed Eason before Josh Breaux (McLellan CC) came on for a perfect ninth inning to close the door.
The pitching complimented the offense quite well and Morris hopes the hitting can pick up where they left off come Saturday.
“You always have your routine, you always have your preparation to fall back on,” Morris said. “If you’re going about your business the right way, on a consistent daily basis, you should go up with confidence every day. It’s not always going to work in your favor.”
The Commodores will return home Staurday to face the Cotuit Kettleers whom they lost to in their first meeting 10-0 at Lowell Park in Cotuit. For Larnach, he’s just happy to be back wearing a Falmouth uniform.
“I’ve been racing to get back here, with Burger and everyone,” Larnach said. “A lot of new guys, some old faces too. It’s nice meeting everybody and it’s nice being back here.”
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