BOURNE, Mass. — For a team to find success in the postseason, they often need someone to play the role of a hero. Luke Costello was that for Bourne on Tuesday night.

The Braves’ right fielder may have only had one hit in their 8-2 win over the Falmouth Commodores, but it was a big one. With a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning, Costello found himself up to bat with the bases loaded.

“It was a big spot in the game… we needed someone to come through,” said Costello after the win. “As a baseball player, you live for moments like that.”

Bourne’s cleanup hitter certainly lived up to the moment. Costello sent a fly ball into the right field corner, clearing the bases and landing himself on third with a triple. The three-bagger was his first of the summer, and his first extra base hit since July 9.

“It’s been a struggle the last month for me, but it’s baseball. It’s the hardest game in the world,” said Costello. “Being able to be resilient through all those moments, all the ups and downs, that's what makes a professional. If I can just stay even-keeled, that’ll help me moving forward.”

The Braves finished the night with eight runs, their most in a win since July 24 at Harwich. Six different batters for Bourne finished the night with a hit; three of whom ended the contest with multi-hit games.

A playoff hero from last summer, SS Ryker Waite (Vanderbilt), was the first to step up for the Braves. In Bourne’s first at-bat of the postseason, Waite drove a double into the gap in left center field. After stealing third base, the Braves’ shortstop came in to score on a sacrifice fly by CF Matt Bolton (Binghamton).

“That was big,” said Field Manager Scott Landers about the Braves’ first-inning run. “He [Waite] was able to steal third, and Bolton had a good at-bat to get us started… we were able to keep that momentum from there on out.”

Catcher Burke-Lee Maebus (Mississippi State) was another big-time piece of the Braves’ offense. Following Costello’s bases-clearing triple, Maebus sent a line drive into the right center gap for an RBI double that extended the lead to 5-0. Bourne’s catcher finished the night 2-for-4 at the plate.

“When Luke cracks a triple like that and gets the momentum on our side, it’s not time to be passive,” said Maebus. “I was just playing off the environment that the team created tonight.”

The victory also featured a bounce-back revenge game for starting pitcher Tyler Baird (Vanderbilt). The righty threw a season-high five innings, allowing only four hits and one earned run. Before that, Baird had last pitched a week ago when Bourne lost 13-9 to Falmouth. In that contest, he gave up 12 hits and eight earned runs.

“Baird gave us a really good start,” said Landers. “Overall, it was a great performance on the defensive side.”

Bourne’s game one victory snapped what was a seven-game losing streak to close out the regular season. Five of their losses to close out this regular season came in the final three days of the season, as the Braves played back-to-back doubleheaders to make up for games postponed by rain. The skid was their longest since 2012, when they lost eight in a row from June 17-28.

“We were sick of losing,” said Costello. “It was fun to play with the guys and have a blast. Playoff baseball is great.”

Postseason winning is nothing new for Scott Landers. In his previous four seasons as the Braves manager, Landers has led his team to the championship series every year and won three times.

His secret to postseason success?

Belief.

“They just have to believe. We’ve got a good team. We went through a rocky road at the end of the season, but it doesn’t matter… It’s a new season,” said Landers.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Braves are now just one win away from advancing in the 2026 Cape Cod Baseball League Playoffs, presented by Readers Hardwood Supply. With a victory in tomorrow’s game, Bourne will clinch a spot in the West Division Finals.

BOURNEBRAVES.ORG PLAYER OF THE GAME

Luke Costello is tonight’s Player of the Game. The cleanup hitter brought in three runs on a fifth-inning, bases-clearing triple. Costello hadn’t recorded an extra base hit since July 9, despite leading the CCBL in doubles (10) this summer.

NEXT UP

Game two of the 2026 Cape Cod Baseball League Playoffs, presented by Readers Hardwood Supply, between the Braves and Commodores will be at Guv Fuller Field in Falmouth. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET.