CHATHAM, Mass. — At the beginning of Cotuit’s season-opener Saturday, the Kettleers’ bats were cold. They couldn’t score a run until the sixth inning, with it coming courtesy of a double from Jake Hanley (Indiana).
In Cotuit’s second game of the season and first road contest, the Kettleers got things going early. After Hogan Denny (Indiana) notched a double, Tague Davis (Louisville) whacked a homer to give the Kettleers a 2-0 lead.
Cotuit rode that momentum to defeat the Anglers 8-2 on Sunday in Chatham.
Davis’ home run highlighted the night, but the Kettleers’ offense performed well for the duration of the game. There’s no doubt that the homer set the tone.
“I think it brings a certain level of comfort in the box,” Davis said. “(It) just involves a big trust in the offense, just go out there and have fun.”
The Kettleers added to their lead in the second inning. As a result of a two-base error, Hunter Warren (NC State) drove in Noah Coy (Notre Dame) after Coy doubled. That propelled Cotuit to a 3-0 advantage.
Chatham responded in the bottom of the frame, beginning with Connor Shouse (Texas Tech) whacking a triple. Shortly after, he came in on a fielder's choice. Rett Johnson (NC State) was walked to bring in a run.
Cotuit pitcher Alex Sotiropoulos (Columbia) came up with a timely strikeout to stop the damage, and the Kettleers remained ahead 3-2.
After that, the game quieted until the fifth inning, where the Kettleers added two runs. A two-base error from Denny scored Dawson Park (LSU). JJ Moran (Stanford) then logged his first hit (a single) as a Kettleer to add onto the scoring and push Cotuit ahead 5-2.
Denny recorded his second double, and just like that, the Kettleers found themselves with a 7-2 lead in the sixth.
“Just excited to help out with the win,” Denny said. “I felt confident, felt relaxed…”
“One of the things I really wanted to work on for the summer was hitting with runners in scoring position and being able to capitalize on moments that they're giving us, so it felt really good.”
A single from Moran added another run in the sixth.
Sotiropoulos pitched first for the Kettleers. He got off to an impressive start, retiring the batters in order in the first inning. He finished with 3.1 innings pitched, striking out seven. Sotiropoulos allowed three hits and two runs while walking four.
Cotuit made a pitching change in the fourth inning, with Jonathan Adelmann (Bucknell) entering the game. He pitched 2.2 innings, logging three strikeouts and allowing no hits and no runs.
Tristan Hunter (Kentucky) pitched two innings, logging three strikeouts, and Kyle Kipp (Boston College) closed things out in the final inning with three strikeouts. The pitchers combined for 16 total strikeouts.
“They're doing great,” coach Rob Cooper said. “When you give your team a chance to win by keeping the score low and keeping guys off the bases, good things happen. I've been very pleased with those guys.”
The Kettleers return to the field when they take on Bourne at 5 p.m. Monday in Cotuit.
