BREWSTER, Mass. — At a misty Stony Brook Field, the Bourne Braves lost 4-1 against the Brewster Whitecaps in a contest that was shortened to seven innings due to darkness.
After the game, Field Manager Scott Landers’ description of the game told all there was to know about the Braves’ performance.
“It was lackluster. We played a game, but we didn’t really show up,” said Landers. “The elements kind of dictated how we played, but we have to come back after the day off and be better.”
Bourne managed to have just two hits on offense, coming off the bats of C Burke-Lee Maebus (Mississippi State) and 2B Eliot Medlock. The Braves’ lone run of the afternoon came on a fifth-inning sacrifice fly by centerfielder Rustan Rigdon (Vanderbilt).
“I think we were a little bit unlucky,” said Rigdon about Bourne’s loss. “I felt like we were putting some good at-bats together and just weren’t finding any holes.”
Despite being one of the best parts of the Bravos this season, the pitching staff couldn’t save Bourne on Sunday. Righty Austin Musso, one of the Braves’ best relief pitchers this season, started on the mound. In three innings, Musso allowed two earned runs. Though he had a season-high six strikeouts, the Braves’ starter also allowed four walks.
“He had good stuff,” said Landers about Musso’s outing. “He just couldn’t find the zone consistently, and got behind on a lot of hitters.”
After Musso’s night was done, LHP Aiden Stillman (Vanderbilt) took over. In his one and only inning, Stillman kept the Whitecaps off the board despite allowing three baserunners. Left-handed pitcher Gavin Miller (George Washington) followed for the final two innings. After a scoreless fifth inning, Miller surrendered two runs in the sixth.
WHAT IT MEANS
Despite the loss, the Braves still hold a sizable lead in the West Division. After the off day on Monday, Bourne will travel to Falmouth for an important intra-division matchup. If the Braves win each of their next three games, they will secure the top spot in the West.
BOURNEBRAVES.ORG PLAYER OF THE GAME
Eliot Medlock is tonight’s Player of the Game. The Braves’ second baseman reached base twice in the loss — once on a base hit and once on a hit-by-pitch. Medlock has played eight games with Bourne this summer, hitting .235 with a .762 OPS.
NEXT UP
Bourne has an off day on Monday, but will return to action on the road against Falmouth on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET.
