WAREHAM, Mass. — Things certainly didn’t go the way the Bourne Braves wanted in Friday’s game to the Wareham Gatemen.

After the day off on Thursday, the Braves extended their losing streak to three games with their 7-5 loss to the league-worst Gatemen. The game was played in the sweltering heat wave hitting the Cape for the holiday weekend. Despite the adverse conditions, the Braves weren’t using that as an excuse for the loss.

“The conditions were fine. They were the same for both teams tonight, and we just didn't win," said Field Manager Scott Landers.

Wareham was the first to score in Friday’s contest, with their first run coming from a new face in the fourth. In his debut for the Gatemen, Connor Cuff (Louisiana Lafayette) sent a long fly ball over the right field fence to give Wareham a 1-0 advantage. The lead grew to two runs later in the frame after an RBI double from Carter Groen (La Salle).

The inning after going down 2-0 to the Gatemen, the Braves put up their only productive offensive frame in the fifth. 3B Trent Caraway (Miami) and RF Cooper Williams (Troy) singled to kickoff the Bourne rally, and 2B Blake Schaaf (Wake Forest) drove them both home with a double to tie the game. SS Rustan Rigdon (Vanderbilt) followed with a ground ball to bring in the Braves’ third run, and 1B Luke Costello closed the Bravos’ fifth-inning scoring with a 2-RBI double that made it 5-2.

Luke Costello finished the game going 2-for-4 with two doubles. The Bravos’ first baseman already led the league in doubles going into the game, and extended that lead with his seventh and eighth doubles of the summer. After the game, Costello spoke about his recent success on offense.

“I’m just trying to put good swings on the baseball and stay locked in,” said Costello. “Just trying to not think about it too much.”

Following the Braves’ big inning, the Gatemen went right back to work on offense. Wareham scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at five, and scored what would eventually be the game-winning run as part of a two-run sixth inning.

Despite the loss, Bourne will have a chance to get quick revenge. The Braves and Gatemen will play for the second consecutive day tomorrow. This time, the game will be at Doran Park.

“We need to stay locked in for all nine innings,” said Costello about how the Braves can get back in the win column. “It’s been awesome coming back in the late innings a lot this season. We’ve been having really good at-bats, pitching well and having good energy. If we stay locked in through all nine innings, we should be ok.”

“We just have to play baseball,” said Landers. “It’s a chance to get back in the win column.”

WHAT IT MEANS

With their third straight loss, the Braves are now tied with the Falmouth Commodores for first place in the West Division. The Hyannis Harbor Hawks are also within striking distance for the division lead, sitting just one point back in the standings.

BOURNEBRAVES.ORG PLAYER OF THE GAME

Luke Costello is tonight’s Player of the Game. After going 2-for-4 in the contest with two doubles, Costello now has eight doubles in total this summer. He also recorded two RBI in the loss, putting him at 14 RBI on the season. That ranks as the most by a Brave this season, and the third-most by anyone in the CCBL this summer.

NEXT UP

The Braves will face off with the Wareham Gatemen once again, this time at Doran Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.