FALMOUTH, Mass. — Through the first five innings of Bourne’s matchup with Falmouth, the Braves were on the brink of being run-ruled and suffering their worst loss of the season. The Bravos’ luck changed late, but they would run out of time Tuesday night.
Though they couldn’t quite pull off the comeback, the Braves showed heart in their 13-9 loss against the Commodores.
The game started off almost as poorly as possible for the Braves. Falmouth had 10 hits through the first two innings, scoring four runs in each frame for an 8-0 advantage after two. After a couple innings of strong pitching from the bullpen, the Commodores added two runs in the fifth for a 10-0 lead.
“It was one of those nights,” said Braves’ Field Manager Scott Landers after the loss. “They were on everything, no matter what we threw, and I tip my cap to them. We’ll be fine.”
The Braves, realizing they were just a few innings away from being run-ruled, came alive on offense in the sixth. Bourne opened the frame with back-to-back baserunners, and an RBI single from RF Luke Costello (South Carolina) gave the Bravos their first run. After a pitching change, 1B Josiah Overbeek (Mississippi State) made a deeper cut into the Commodores’ lead. The rising sophomore launched a line-drive home run over the wall in right center, giving the Braves three more runs on his first home run of the summer.
“I was just trying to stay aggressive,” said Overbeek about his sixth-inning home run. “Ultimately, a new pitcher coming, I think a heater is coming. I saw one outside a little bit, but the next one I let loose.”
In the top of the seventh, Bourne continued to mount a comeback. LF Matt Bolton (Binghamton) hit the second Braves’ home run of the night, this one a drive down the right field line. Bolton’s first home run of the season was a solo shot, cutting Falmouth’s lead to 10-5.
Sensing a Bourne comeback brewing, the Commodores rallied in the bottom of the frame. Falmouth scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run home run by Tommy Harrison (Miami (OH)). Neither team would score in the eighth, and the Commodores held a 13-5 lead going into the ninth.
Down to their final three outs, the Braves attempted another of their infamous late-game comebacks. Bourne loaded the bases to start the frame, and scored their first run on an RBI base knock by CF Rustan Rigdon (Vanderbilt). Three more runs came in to score over the next two at-bats after a fielding error, RBI-walk, and wild-pitch, making it a 13-9 game. With the bases still loaded, the tying run at the plate, and down to their final out, 2B Eliot Medlock hit a towering fly ball to center field. The ball travelled just a few feet short of the fence, where it was caught by the Commodores’ center fielder to end the game.
“They left it all out there,” said Landers about his teams’ comeback effort. “They didn’t quit. They made every at-bat count, but we came up short.”
WHAT IT MEANS
The Braves’ second-consecutive loss causes them to lose distance on their lead in the West Division. The Hyannis Harbor Hawks now sit just three points back of Bourne for the division lead, with a pivotal matchup between the two teams coming on Thursday. With the win, Falmouth trails Hyannis by just two points for second place in the division.
BOURNEBRAVES.ORG PLAYER OF THE GAME
Matt Bolton is tonight’s Player of the Game. The lefty batter had his first home run of the season, aiding the Braves in their comeback attempt. Overall, Bolton went 2-for-4 at the plate, his first multi-hit game for Bourne since July 15.
NEXT UP
The Braves will be back at Doran Park for their second-to-last home game of the regular season to take on the Harwich Mariners. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. tomorrow
