The Mariners traveled to Cotuit Thursday to face the Kettleers for the third meeting of the season. The Kettleers got the best of the Mariners in their last meeting after an 11-4 win at Cotuit. The Mariners were coming off a loss at Brewster Wednesday after an 8-0 loss.

Cooper Walls was the starter for the Mariners Thursday. Walls is coming off his first start with the Mariners Tuesday night against Falmouth where he pitched 2 ⅔ innings and allowed three runs while striking out three.

The Mariners came into the game not scoring a run for the past four days after getting shutout by the Whitecaps Wednesday. Harwich flipped the script in the top of the first inning. After a leadoff home run for Colin Larson, the Mariners scored their first run.

A Nate Castellon single and Ty Smolinski double kept the momentum high. New Mariner Brayden Jaksa took an outside fastball to opposite right field for a two RBI double. The Mariners led 3-0 after the first inning.

The Kettleers bounced back in the bottom of the second inning. Six Kettleers were able to reach base in the bottom half of the inning. After a Noah Coy single and Landon Beaver double, Cotuit was able to tie the game 3-3.

Walls ended his night after 2 ⅓ innings of work. The right-hander from Florida gave up five hits and allowed four runs while walking four batters.

Cotuit kept the bats rolling into the third and fourth innings. Noah Coy gave Harwich problems all night. Coy had a four-hit, five-RBI night for the Kettleers. One of Coy's hits came in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Coy launched a ball to deep right field for the three-run home run. Cotuit led 8-3 after the long ball.

The Mariners were able to get one run back in the top of the ninth after a Brayden Jaksa RBI single.

The Mariners dropped their second game in a row Thursday after the offense fizzled out.

New Ducks

Harwich has added two Oregon Ducks players in the past week. Brayden Jaksa and Luke Morgan both got to see action in Thursday's game. Morgan pitched one inning in the bottom of the seventh. The right-hander only allowed one hit and struck out one Kettleer on the way to a shutout inning. Morgan really saw success tonight in his curveball Thursday night.

"I liked the curveball. It felt good. It's always been one of my better pitches. The fastball was alright. I sped up a little early, so we'll get back to it," said Morgan.

Jaksa had a three-hit day Thursday which started with his first inning double. Jaksa would end the night batting in three of the Mariners four runs. Jaksa is now batting .444 through two games and is glad to be with an organization like the Mariners.

"It's been super cool. There's a bunch of good guys here, and I love to play baseball. I just come out here every day to compete, and it's been super fun being with them," said Jaksa.

New Position, Same Success

Chone James might have been hard to spot Thursday after not being in his usual catching gear. James was out in the middle infield today at second base. The Mississippi State product was used as a utility player this past year for the Bulldogs. James made a leaping grab in the bottom of the seventh inning to spoil a run after Landon Beaver torched a ball.

"Yeah, it felt good. I played second in college, so it was nice to get back over there. It adds some versatility to the lineup, gets me in there, gives some guys a rest and helps the team out. I'll basically do whatever I need to do,” said James.

What's Next?

The Hyannis Harbor Hawks will travel to Harwich Friday to face the Mariners for the third meeting between the two teams this season.

First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.