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July 14, 2023 10:59 pm | by Joanna Dwyer
The Gatemen road struggles continued Friday night as they dropped another game away from Spillane Field as They were defeated by the Harwich Mariners with a final score of 4-1.
Riley Eikhoff (Coastal Carolina) made his second start on the mound for the Gatemen. After being shaken up by three doubles in a row by the Mariners in the bottom of the first inning, the righty got into a groove, forcing Harwich to hit into double plays, routine popups or even striking out. Eikhoff also became the first Gatemen starting pitcher this season to throw for six innings.
The Gatemen bats were kept quiet, as they could not make much contact for hits. Bobby Boser (USF) took the league lead in walks as he trotted to first. Sebastian Murillo (Georgia) then got the first hit in the top of the second but was left stranded, foreshadowing the theme of the night. Grant Hussey (West Virginia) singled in the fourth as well but returned to the dugout when he was called out as part of a double play.
Harwich tacked on their third run of the game with an RBI single in the fourth inning after the Gatemen defense did their best to stop several advances, including a tagout at home by Tommy Splaine (Arizona). The relay was one of the bright spots of the game and showed the chemistry between Boser and Murillo, two of the last members of the Gatemen Opening Day roster. Boser got the ball in center field after the Harwich double, fired it to Murillo at shortstop who launched it to Splaine at home. Wareham was able to force the third out with Eikhoff’s heads up play to pick off the runner at first to move the game to top of the fifth.
The Mariners increased their lead with a solo shot in the sixth inning over the outfield fence to take a 4-0 lead.
Eikhoff finished his night with four earned runs on 10 hits and three strikeouts.
The Gatemen looked to avoid the shutout with Rene Lastres (Charlotte transfer) up to bat. The designated hitter hit a leadoff single before Dorian Gonzalez (University of Miami) came in as a pinch runner. JC Colon (Missouri) recorded his first hit of the night with a single to left to put two runners on with one out. Nick McLain (Arizona State) hit the third single of the inning to give Gonzalez time to cross home and put Wareham on the board. The momentum came to a screeching halt, however, when the Mariners turned two on a key double play.
Chase Chatman (St. Thomas) entered in the top of the seventh to close the game out for the Gatemen. In his first appearance with Wareham, the southpaw pitcher threw two innings of work and shut down the Harwich offense. Chatman faced six batters,recorded one strikeout and did not allow any hits or walks.
The Gatemen return home to Spillane Field to face the Orleans Firebirds Saturday night and attempt to put an end to their second five game losing streak of the season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m..
Riley Eikhoff (Coastal Carolina) pitches during Wareham’s 4-1 loss to the Harwich Mariners, July 14, 2023 at Whitehouse Field in Harwich. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
Garen Caulfield (Arizona) throws to first during Wareham’s 4-1 loss to the Harwich Mariners, July 14, 2023 at Whitehouse Field in Harwich. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
Sebastian Murillo (Georgia) throws to first during Wareham’s 4-1 loss to the Harwich Mariners, July 14, 2023 at Whitehouse Field in Harwich. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
Chase Chatman (St. Thomas) pitches during Wareham’s 4-1 loss to the Harwich Mariners, July 14, 2023 at Whitehouse Field in Harwich. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
Tommy Splaine (Arizona) bats during Wareham’s 4-1 loss to the Harwich Mariners, July 14, 2023 at Whitehouse Field in Harwich. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
