The Birds faced their biggest test of the season Saturday night, as they traveled to Hyannis to match up with the league-leading Harbor Hawks, a team with which they could not differ more.

Indeed, the differences in offenses are staggering: Hyannis boasts the league's highest-scoring offense with a collective .293 batting average compared to Orleans's league-worst scoring offense which posts a .183. average.

But the most notable difference between the two ball clubs is the careers of the men calling the shots from the dugout.

On one side, Hyannis' first-year manager Mitch Karraker looks to build a legacy within the Cape Cod Baseball league, while on the other side, Kelly Nicholson, the 19th-year Firebirds manager, looks to continue adding to an already cemented one.

Nicholson's first matchup with Karraker was kicked off with some early drama, as Hudson Shupe (Gonzaga) led off with a line drive to left and was waved to second where he was initially called safe on what appeared to be an on-time throw, much to the dismay of the Hyannis crowd. But after a quick umpire meeting, it was ruled Shupe was in fact out, further adding to the confusion on the game's opening at-bat.

Shupe's lead-off was all the base running the Birds' offense would do in the first, with Casey Hintz (Arizona) quickly retiring the next two in the order.

As the defense took their positions, a new face emerged on the mound. Matthew Dalquist (San Diego) jogged onto the hill to set the tone for the Birds' pitching, a big task against the hot Hyannis bats.

With the Firebirds' offense struggling to string together productive at-bats early in games, it has remained important that pitching keeps runs off the board until the offense can get in its groove.

In Hyannis' second at-bat, however, they would put instant pressure on the Birds' offense. Parker Brosius (Georgia Tech) quickly launched a solo homer into left center, putting Orleans in a second inning, 1-0 hole.

Dalquist kept his composure after the early homer and fought his way through the top of the Harbor Hawks order.

With the Firebirds looking to respond quickly before the Hyannis offense piled it on, JP Smith (Sacramento State) singled on a line drive to right, and wouldn't be on first base for long, let alone any base.

Daniel Bucciero (Fordham) followed Smith's single with a deep shot that barely squeezed over the right-field gate to give Orleans their first multi-run homer of the season and more importantly, the lead.

Smith, who hadn't been playing baseball at a level he was used to after seven multi-home run games and 22 altogether during his sophomore season at Sacramento State, now finds himself on a two-game hit streak, grateful to make an impact on the team.

"I wouldn't even call it a slump, I haven't played in a long time," said Smith. "I'm just trying to do what's best for the team right now.'

Hyannis didn't waste any time responding to Bucciero's two-run homer, as they quickly loaded the bases after consecutive line drives down each field line. Brosius once again came up to the plate with a chance to make an impact play for Hyannis and came through, grounding into a force out at second to bring Camden Janik (Illinois) home from third, knotting the game at two.

The Hawks would continue to take advantage of the inexperienced Cape Leaguer on the mound, tallying two more runs in the third, as a result of an RBI triple off the bat of Mason White (Arizona) and an RBI single from Janik that brought in White.

Hyannis quickly took back a 4-2 lead.

Janik's RBI was the last thing Kelly Nicholson needed to see before dipping into his bullpen for Itsuki Tokemoto, effectively ending Dalquist's night.

However, Nicholson remains in high hopes for the newest Firebird on the mound.

"It's his first outing. He'll be better," said Nicholson.

After a Hyannis avalanche in the first few innings, effective pitching kept the Birds within striking distance, much to the delight of Coach K.

"They've been able to keep us in games," Nicholson said regarding his pitching staff. "I tip my cap to those guys man, they've been throwing the ball extremely well.

Despite closing the gap to one after a Jimmy Keenan (St Johns) sacrifice fly brought in Bucciero, a Wallace Clark (Duke) line-drive double in the bottom of the eighth brought in two more runners, and put the game out of reach for Orleans.

Hyannis would hold on to win, 6-3.

After a tough week of hitting for the Birds' offense in which they had multiple games with under three hits, manager Kelly Nicholson slowly senses the tides turning.

"We're getting closer," he said. "These guys just have to remember why they're up here and be themselves, and we'll be just fine."

The Birds return to Eldridge at 6:30 p.m. Sunday night after the one-game road trip to play their neighboring rivals who they swept in last year's season series, the Brewster Whitecaps.