ORLEANS, Mass. — The Braves got out in front early but had the lead taken away shortly after.
After falling behind, the bats couldn’t get going as Orleans slowly increased its lead as the game went on.
The lead was never out of reach for Bourne, but the offensive production took a significant decline after the 10-1 win Saturday against Yarmouth-Dennis, losing to the Firebirds, 5-2, on Sunday and having the four-game win streak snapped.
The scoring started in the third, as the Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Ryan Cooney (Oregon) walked, and then Jimmy Keenan (Wake Forest) singled. The pair advanced on a ground-ball hit by Ryker Waite (Vanderbilt), then both scored on a two-run single by Gavin Kelly (West Virginia) that snuck right past Michael O’Shaughnessy (Davidson) at first base.
A half-inning later, the Firebirds’ bats woke up and got to Zack Konstantinovsky (Rugters) after his first two innings of efficient work. Luke Nixon (NC State) started the hitting with a ground-rule double, then advanced to third on a passed ball. He then scored on an RBI double by Dawson Bryce (Charlotte).
A pair of RBI singles from Anthony Potestio (UC San Diego) and Robbie Lavey (George Washington) pushed the score to 3-2.
Orleans extended the lead in the fifth, starting with a Potestio double and O’Shaughnessy walk. The pair both touched home plate shortly after, as Lavey netted his second and third RBIs of the day on a two-run double.
The Braves had runners in scoring position in the sixth and the eighth as Logan Hughes (Texas Tech) made his way to third and Cam Kozeal (Arkansas) made his way to second, but Bourne couldn’t cash in with runners in scoring position.
Steele Murdock (UC San Diego) pitched in the ninth for the Firebirds, shutting the door en route to a 5-2 Bourne loss.
Bourne Braves Player of the Game
Waite went 2-for-3 and reached base a third time on a hit-by-pitch.
Key moment
The Firebirds' three-run inning in the third propelled them to a victory, taking the lead and never looking back.
A look ahead
The Braves (8-10-1, 17 points) will have an off-day before traveling to Hyannis to face the Harbor Hawks (10-8-1, 21 points). The last time the two squads met, Hyannis emerged victorious, 8-5.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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