Wareham strike early and then hold on to lead in win over Bourne Braves
July 4, 2019 9:18 pm | by Andrew Lang
Wareham strike early and then hold on to lead in win over Bourne Braves
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WAREHAM- The Wareham Gatemen offense woke up after 2 days of struggling to score runs defeating the Bourne Braves 7-5 in a game that almost slipped away
Matt Rudick (San Diego State) led off the game with a towering home run into right giving the Gatemen a 1-0 lead. Jacob Teter roped an RBI double into left making it 2-0. Coach Jerry Weinstein utilized Rudick as the lead-off hitter for the first time since the beginning of the season.
“That was really encouraging to see Rudick play like that” Weinstein said. “baseball is a game of averages and you go through periods where you hit .000 and there are times where you hit .600 so it all averages out and that’s just the nature of the game.”
Kameron Guangorena (Cal State Fullerton) opened up the flood gates hitting a 3-run home run. Bourne answered back cutting the lead to 4 on a Cody Morissette (Boston College) RBI single.
Otsuka opened the 2ndinning with a single and Rudick got on with a bunt. Darren Baker (Cal Berkely) was walked to load up the base with no outs. Teter grounded into a double play but a run scored making it 6-1 and Dallas Beaver (South Carolina) made it 7-1 on an RBI single.
Flemings night was ended in the 3rdinning and Trey Dillard (Missouri) took over. Dillard pitched 2.2 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit walking 2 batters. Austin Weiermiller (Stanford) took the mound for the Gatemen in the 6thinning with the bases loaded and did a fanatastic job limiting the damage to 1 run.
Things began to take a turn for the worst in the 7thinning for the Gatemen. Weiermiller did not have as strong as a 7thinning walking a batter and allowing a single ending his night. Jack Enger (Washington) did not last very long allowing a run off a single making the score 7-3 and then hit a batter to load the bases and end his night.
Ben Leeper (Oklahoma State) had a very tough test in the 7thinning coming in with the bases loaded and facing Nick Brueser (Stanford) who already had 2 doubles on the night. Leeper walked Brueser scoring a run making it 7-4.
Bourne would not go down without a fight once again loading the bases in the 8thinning as Leeper walked 2 batters and allowed a single. Just as in the prior inning Leeper was able to work himself out of the jam. 1 run was scored on a sacrifice but a two flyouts and strikeout made it a 7-5 game heading into the 9th.
Landon Roupp (UNCW) came in to the game in the 9thinning and did not allow a hit earning the save. Dillard earned the win for his relief efforts and Joshua Culliver (Minnesota) earned the loss. Culliver struggled mightily only lasting 2 innings allowing 7 runs on 6 hits walking 3 batters.
Baker was 2-2 on the night with 2 walks, Dallas Beaver (South Carolina) was 2-4 with 1 RBI, Guangorena was 2-4 with 3 RBI, and Tora Otsuka (San Diego) was 2-3. While these players stood out it is a little concering that no runs were scored after the first 2 innings.
“We scored in the first 2 innings and were then dormant after that so it wasn’t like this was an offensive explosion. We haven’t strung hits together but tonight we did” Weinstein said. “I don’t think one game about any team tells you anything but tonight showed we have some mental toughness and have dealt with adversity.”
With the win the Gatemen improve to 10-8-1 on the season and retake 1stplace in the Western Division over the Cotuit Kettleers (9-8-2). The Bourne Braves fall to 6-11 and now sit in 4thplace in the Western Division. The Wareham Gatemen have today off for July 4thbut are back in action tomorrow night hosting the Orleans Firebirds at 6:45 p.m.
Photo by; Kristin Ostowski
