The Y-D Red Sox traveled to Falmouth on Sunday night to face off against the Commodores for the first time this summer. After a back-and-forth battle featuring spectacular pitching from both sides, Y-D came out on top with a final score of 4–3.
Y-D went down early, with Matt Sauser (UCF) striking out two batters before Chris Hacopian grounded out. Dylan Tate, a new addition to Y-D’s roster, took the mound to start Sunday’s game. After recording two quick outs, the junior from the University of Oklahoma hit Maika Niu (UNO). Niu stole second base and immediately scored on a single by Kent Schmidt (GT). After Kyle Morrison (USA) was also hit by a pitch, Carl Schmidt (Cal) singled to give Falmouth a 2–0 lead.
Cody Miller walked to lead off the second inning, followed by AJ Soldra’s second home run of the season—a 381-foot blast to left field that tied the game at 2–2. Falmouth later loaded the bases with two outs but escaped the jam unscathed.
Two-out rallies have been a key part of Y-D’s season so far, and Sunday night was no exception. With runners on second and first, Soldra hit a weak chopper to the third baseman. Carl Schmidt tried to get Miller out at second base, but the throw couldn’t beat Miller’s speed. Yomar Carreras then reached on an error during the next at-bat, giving Y-D a 3-2 lead.
Falmouth once again loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but reliever Ricky Ojeda escaped the jam with a crucial strikeout. Ojeda threw two scoreless innings on Sunday night, striking out five in the process.
David McCann (VT) hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning, tying the game once again. Other than McCann’s home run and the rough first inning for Tate, Y-D had another excellent night on the mound. Tate threw 54 pitches through three innings, only allowing three hits. Derek Schaefer threw the final four innings of the ballgame, only allowing three hits and one run. Not only did Schaefer’s innings help Y-D secure a win, but he also gave the otherwise-busy bullpen an extra day of rest headed into an off day.
Hacopian led off the ninth inning with a four-pitch walk, advancing to third base on a double by Nolan Traeger. Miller continued his impactful night at the plate, hitting a sacrifice fly to deep center field, far enough to score Hacopian from third base. Justin Osterhouse (PFW) singled in the bottom of the ninth, immediately putting Falmouth's tying run on base. He attempted to steal second base, but Traeger threw him out to secure the second out of the inning. Schaefer finished the job one batter later.
Y-D now has a four-game winning streak and will look to continue their success at home against Wareham, with the first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
