The Harwich Mariners dropped to .500 early in the season with a 5-1 loss to the Hyannis Harbor Hawks on sunny Sunday evening at Whitehouse Field. Mariners’ fans were out in full force for the home opener but weren’t treated to a win as Harwich dropped its first game of the season.
Trailing 5-1 in the ninth, the Mariners attempted a rally with their backs against the wall. Three singles loaded the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate with two out, but Harbor Hawks reliever Stone Cushing dug deep and struck out Bryan Arendt (UNC Wilmington) and Robbie Burnett (Georgia) with the bases loaded to end the game.
The Harbor Hawks jumped on Harwich starter Haiden Leffew (Wake Forest) in the first inning, putting a two spot on the board before the Mariners could step to the plate.
After Parker Brosius walked to start the game, Kane Kepley jumped on a fastball and stroked a double down the right field line to give Hyannis a quick 1-0 lead. Zach Yorke drove Kepley in with a groundout to finish off the scoring in the first.
Although the Harbor Hawks got three more runs, that ended up being the only run support the Hyannis pitching staff needed, as they held the Mariners to just one run on five hits, three of which came in the bottom of the ninth during Harwich’s failed rally attempt.
Blake Morningstar (Wake Forest) shone out the bullpen for Harwich, going 3 1/3 innings, striking out six while only allowing two base hits.
The Mariners will look to bounce back tomorrow night at Y-D. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
