Gatemen get enough hits but not enough runs in loss to Falmouth
July 17, 2019 9:32 pm | by Andrew Lang
Gatemen get enough hits but not enough runs in loss to Falmouth
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JP Gates (Miami) was dominant on the mound for the Gatemen for the first 3 innings. Gates only allowed 1 hit through the first 10 batters he faced racking up 4 strikeouts. Things changed in the 4thinning as Gates found himself in trouble with runners on the corners and no outs.
Trei Cruz (Rice) hit a single breaking his bat sending home a run to make it 1-0. A dropped 3rdstrike loaded the bases with 2 outs in the 4thending the night for Gates. Gates finished with a line of 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO. Trent Palmer (Jacksonville) relieved Gates.
Palmer came into the game in a tight jam with runners on 2ndand 3rd, but escaped with a strike out. The story of the night for Wareham was hits that didn’t lead to anything. The Gatemen had a base runner on in the first 5 innings and a walk in the 5thended Nick Nastrini’s (UCLA) night. Nastrini was impressive posting a line of 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO.
“We could have done a better job in the running game tonight. We had 10 hits and only 1 run so it was just one of those nights” Baker said. “We have only seen Falmouth once prior to this game so we are not too familiar with a lot of their arms but as we get later in the week I expect us to be more comfortable against this team.”
Taking over in relief duty for the Commodores was Caleb Wurster (UCONN). Adrian Del Castillo (Miami) and Matt Mclain (UCLA) hit back-to-back singles to start the 6thinning. Matt Rudick (San Diego State) advanced both runners on a groundout. Del Castillo scored on an error knotting the game at 1.
Baron Radcliff (Georgia Tech) got all of a ball roping an RBI double into deep left making the score 2-1. Palmer had had a spectacular year with the Gatemen but struggled with his control last night. At one point in the 6thinning Palmer was at 25 strikes and 25 balls thrown.
2 straight 2 out singles put runners at the corners for the Gatemen in the 7thinning. Del Castllio popped up to end the inning stranding 2 men on base. Ben Leeper (Oklahoma State) came in for the Gatemen in the 7thinning. Palmer’s final line was 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO.
Leeper struggled in the 7thinning waking 2 batters and a run scored on a passed ball making it 3-1. Jason Ruffcorn (Oklahoma) took over for the Gatemen in the 8thinning. Ruffcorn is a newcomer to the Gatemen roster and his 1 inning of action was promising only allowing 1 hit.
Palmer earned the loss for his uncharacteristic outing, Wurster earned the win and Zachary Brzkcy (Virginia Tech) closed the game out earning a save. Darren Baker (Cal Berkeley) was 2-4, McLain was 3-4, and Mike Antico (St. Johns) was 2-3.
“I tweaked my batting when I first got here and I have just worked on trying to perfect it and hit more balls up the middle” Baker said. “It’s very hard to tell if the off day disrupted our rythym yesterday but I do think it came at an unfortunate time.”
The Gatemen fell to 17-13-1 but still retained first place in the West Division. The Falmouth Commodores improved to 15-12-1 and moved within 2 points of second place Cotuit Kettleers. The Gatemen are back in action tonight hosting the Commodores at 6:00 p.m.
Photo by: Kristin Ostrowski
