By: David Korzeniowski
WAREHAM — Short-term memory worked in the Falmouth Commodores’ favor as they defeated the Wareham Gatemen 5-3 on Thursday night at Spillane Field following a 3-1 loss on Wednesday.
In the teams’ fifth meeting of the season, the Commodores (20-17- 1) notched up 11 hits to top the Gatemen (21-16-1) for the third time this summer.
Cameron Cannon (Arizona) delivered a two-out, bases-loaded single in the seventh inning that scored Austin Langworthy (Florida) and Kyle Stowers (Stanford) and broke a 3-3 tie.
“I was just looking to put some hard contact on the ball and put it in play,” Cannon said.
The All-Star third basemen finished the night with two singles and three RBI, upping his hit streak to 11 games. He has bumped his batting average from .213 to .267 over the past two weeks.
Commodores head coach Jeff Trundy noted Cannon’s knack for timely hitting.
“Cameron Cannon is a very good baseball player,” Trundy said. “He always seems to be at his best with runners in scoring position.”
Pat McGowan (Holy Cross) earned his second win of the summer in his fourth start, allowing three earned runs over six innings pitched.
“I had to battle,” McGowan said. “They were getting comfortable … and I had to start mixing stuff up.”
McGowan retired 15 of the last 18 batters he faced. He has a 2.75 ERA in the month of July.
“Pat is a resilient kid,” Trundy said. “When you think he’s on the ropes, he gets himself off it and gives you two, three, four good innings.
“That was key tonight.”
The Commodores jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to production from a pair of Stanford teammates. Stowers scored Langworthy on a sacrifice fly, and Maverick Handley doubled, stole third, and scored on a throwing error by Gatemen catcher Drew Millas (Missouri State).
Stowers received yet another Cape Cod League honor on Thursday morning, and is batting .461 over his last 39 at-bats.
“Kyle is a great teammate,” Trundy said. “He’s totally unselfish and is always thinking about what it will take for the team to get a win.”
The Gatemen scored three runs in the first two innings to take a 3-2 lead, but it was not to stay. Cannon scored Stowers in the top of third on a two-out, RBI single to tie the game at three.
After the two-run top of the seventh inning, the Commodores bullpen finished out the game in stellar fashion.
Logan Rinehart (California Baptist) pitched two perfect innings and tallied three strikeouts. He has allowed just one hit over his last six innings of work.
Cannon helped out the reliever with a beautiful bare-handed play down the third base line to retire Austin Shenton (Florida International) for the first out of the bottom of the eighth.
“Those plays always come natural through hard work and practice,” Cannon said.
Jack Little (Stanford) came out for the ninth inning and recorded his fourth save of the summer and his second against Wareham. He allowed a leadoff double, but responded by striking out the side.
The Commodores will return to Wareham tomorrow night for a third straight matchup versus the Gatemen. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
“We just come in and play the best baseball we can and go from there,” Trundy said.
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David Korzeniowski can be reached at dkorzeni@nd.edu. Follow him on Twitter @OfKorzzz.
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