ORLEANS, Mass., – The Falmouth Commodores put on an offensive clinic to defeat the Orleans Firebirds 11-4, on Tuesday night. The club picked up their second consecutive win, as they battled through the fog at Eldredge Park.
The ‘Dores bats came alive, erupting for three home runs and 12 hits. Kodie Kolden led the way, going 2-for-4 with five RBIs and a home run. Brennan Milone also had a big night, as he went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
Falmouth’s pitching did its job, holding Orleans to just six hits and four runs. Jackson Phipps, Mikey Tepper and KC Hunt were dominant, combining to allow just one hit in four shutout frames.
Kolden said that he was impressed with the squad’s efforts both at the plate and on the bump.
“It was awesome,” Kolden said. “We had a solid performance on the mound, some guys out of the pen [really got it] done. [And], it was great to put up 11 runs as a team.”
The Commodores’ bats made their presence known early, taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Jake Dukart torched an RBI single to center field, driving in Anthony Hall. Milone followed this by picking up an RBI single of his own, plating Michael Curialle with a knock to left. Kolden then kept the party going with a booming RBI double to right, scoring Dukart. Milone capped off the frame by trotting home on a wild pitch.
Orleans immediately answered this outburst in the bottom half of the inning, cutting Falmouth’s lead to 4-3. Matt Goodheart brought the ballpark to its feet with a three-run jack to left-center field.
Hall got one of these runs back in the third, launching a solo missile over the left-center field fence. The Oregon product’s opposite field dinger gave the ‘Dores a 5-3 lead over Orleans.
Brayden Taylor then extended Falmouth’s lead to 6-3 in the fourth inning, powering a solo homer to right field. The TCU product’s second long ball of the season traveled through the fog, prior to landing beyond the wall.
Assistant coach Brett Becker said that he was pleased to see Kolden’s adjustments translate to in-game success.
“I’m happy for him,” Becker said. “He’s been working hard, and he’s been trying to figure some things out, and tonight it worked for him.”
The Firebirds attempted to rally in the bottom of the fifth, trimming their deficit to 6-4. David Marcano drew a walk with the bases juiced, forcing in a run.
Kolden put the game out of reach in the sixth inning, hitting a three-run moonshot into the Orleans night. The Washington State product’s first home run on the Cape allowed Dukart and Milone to take trip around the bases.
The Commodores plated a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning, extending their lead to 11-4 over the Firebirds. Milone continued to produce, driving home Hall with an RBI knock to left field. Kolden also stayed hot in the batter’s box, skying a sacrifice fly to left field.
Phipps, Tepper and Hunt would then close out the contest, tossing three scoreless innings to lock down Falmouth’s victory.
The win improves the Commodores’ record to 7-8-2 on the season. The club will return to action against the Wareham Gatemen on July 15 at 6 p.m., from Guv Fuller Field.
Note: Featured image by Joe Cavanaugh.
Click here for Tuesday night’s box score.
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Click here for the 2021 Falmouth Commodores schedule.
Tommy Mumau can be reached at tmumau@ithaca.edu. Follow him on Twitter @tommymumau13.
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