WAREHAM, Mass. — Falmouth’s season was on the line. After hanging on until the bitter end, Saturday’s matchup with Wareham could spell the end of its playoff hopes.

A loss would completely eliminate the Commodores and all but end their first season under manager Jarrod Saltalamacchia. A win combined with a Hyannis or Cotuit loss could keep them alive for one final game.

But that was easier said than done. Not only was Falmouth relying on other teams to do its dirty work, it faced a Wareham team that entered as the best squad in the West division.

But the ‘Dores won when it mattered most. Falmouth (16-22-1) cruised past the Gatemen (19-20-0) 5-2. Following Cotuit’s loss to Bourne, the victory sets the stage for a battle for the West’s final playoff spot versus the Kettleers on Sunday. Falmouth starter Jacob Dorn (Miami) allowed just one run across five stellar innings, while its offense tallied 12 walks and eight hits in the win.

“The ball's in our court, so we control what we can control.” outfielder Antonio Morales, who reached base four times, said postgame. “If we pull out a win tomorrow, then we sneak into the playoffs after a little rough start.”

Saturday’s win was pivotal in Falmouth’s quest for the postseason. But the final win-and-in game on Sunday looked impossible after its recent struggles.

The Commodores had a brief offensive surge midway through the season, helping them win eight of 12 games and occupy first place in the division. Falmouth also rattled off two straight wins over Hyannis and Chatham before Friday’s 14-4 loss to Bourne.

But the ‘Dores went 4-12 before beating Wareham on Saturday, plummeting them to the cellar of the West. Falmouth trudged through two separate losing streaks of four-plus games, unable to stop itself from careening out of a playoff spot.

The free fall was highlighted by subpar pitching and once-powerful bats that all went quiet at the same time.

But Saturday’s win completely turned the tides.

“When you're losing a lot of games in a row, it's really demoralizing. It's tough to come to the field and be happy, but with the hope of making the playoffs, I think it helps us out,” Morales said. “That's part of the reason why we started playing a lot better down the stretch.”

Dorn got the start on Saturday, looking to build off a phenomenal Cape League debut, where he posted four scoreless frames in the ‘Dores’ last meeting with Wareham.

That same dominance was present Saturday, as he retired the first 13 hitters. He cruised through the first two frames on 20 pitches by firing 17 strikes and inducing hard flyouts by Jack Kail and Caden McDonald in the first. The third went just as smoothly, as he fanned Vance Sheahan to end the frame.

The Commodores’ offense, on the other hand, came alive. After knocking only two hits in their defeat to the Braves, they had plenty more chances on Saturday. Though it took some time, they capitalized.

Maika Niu and Kent Schmidt walked to open the first off Wareham starter Logan Baisley, but Bear Harrison ended the threat with a double play. Baisley allowed two two-out baserunners in the second before Chris Newstrom grounded out to third.

That was the end of Baisley’s day. And the Commodores feasted off reliever Shea Wendt. After a scoreless third, they teed off in the fourth.

Wendt couldn’t find the zone, walking Justin Osterhouse, Adrian Lopez and Gavin Greger with no outs. Morales responded by chopping a two-run single into right, before Niu ripped a sac fly to the same area to make it 3-0.

“If you walk 12 times, you should be looking good at the end of the game,” Morales said of Falmouth’s patience at the dish. “We didn't give the pitcher anything. We made him come to us.”

Meanwhile, Dorn sat the Gatemen down in order again in the fourth, capped by another Sheahan strikeout. His lone blemish came in the fifth when Foster Apple launched a solo homer to left — Wareham’s first hit, baserunner and run of the game.

Despite the slight blip, the ‘Dores still led 3-1.

And the blast didn’t quiet Falmouth’s bats. Wareham continued to dive into its bullpen, inserting Tommy Skelding for Wendt. He didn’t fare any better.

In the sixth, the ‘Dores got the run back. With two outs, Carl Schmidt drove in Niu from first by smoking an RBI double into right center, then Kent Schmidt followed with an RBI single.

Falmouth was squarely ahead 5-1. Though its offense failed to score again, all it needed was to close out the game on the bump.

Gulf Coast State’s Reese Marcum, who entered for Dorn, was just as efficient. He allowed only a Kail single in the sixth, then spun a 1-2-3 seventh, headlined by a McDonald strikeout.

Then, the ‘Dores turned to their All-Star duo to finish the job. Jakob Schulz (Vanderbilt) allowed a Sheahan RBI infield single in the eighth, but he responded by fanning Colby Turner to end the frame. Joe Sabbath then struck out two to shut the door in the ninth.

Falmouth had completed the first step toward its playoff hopes. Now, it controls its own destiny, a thought that would’ve sounded ludicrous just a week ago.

“If you look at any league, the team's gonna go through stints where they don't play well,” Morales said. “I think the last three or four games, we got through that little strut we were in.”

Noah Nussbaum is the beat reporter for the Falmouth Commodores. You can read all of his articles on the Commodores here.