Cotuit Picks Up Late-Inning Win Vs. Mariners on the Road

For Immediate Release

Kettleers Keep on Top of Western Division with Big Win Over Harwich

By Megan Kerr

HARWICH, MA — Cotuit and Harwich played eight scoreless innings against each other as both starting pitchers played brilliantly for their respective teams, but Cotuit was able to pull the victory out in the ninth inning as they scored the only two runs of the game to earn their eighth victory of the season.

    Michael Cisco (South Carolina , 0 BB, 4 K, 6 H) pitched five and two-thirds strong innings for a no decision as he was able to handle any pressure by Harwich, including what appeared to be a promising fifth inning for the Mariners. With one out, Chris Swauger (Citadel, 1 for 3) tripled to put himself in great scoring position, but Cisco was able to work out of the trouble by causing the next two batters to pop out and ground out to him.

  The Harwich starter Dan Merklinger (Seton Hall, 2 BB, 10 K, 4 H) pitched just as well as Cisco did as he held the Cotuit attack scoreless for the six innings that he pitched. Merklinger completely dominated the Kettleers batters, as evidenced by the fact that he twice struck out the side. A change in pitcher though by the Mariners brought a different complexion to the match as the Kettleers were able to start pressing the attack against reliever Arshwin Asjes ( Temple , 1 BB, 3 K, 5 H). In the eighth inning, Cotuit was able to put runners on first and third with no outs, but unfortunately, they were unable to capitalize as Asjes worked himself out of the jam. Cotuit was not to be deterred though, as they continued to press Asjes in the ninth inning.

  Cotuit reliever Jay Brown (Young Harris, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 H) continued to hold the Harwich attack at bay, giving his offence the opportunity it needed in the ninth inning to pull ahead of the Mariners. The ninth didn't start as Cotuit would have hoped as pinch hitter Kellen Kulbacki (James Madison, 1 for 1) was called out at home plate for the second out of the inning even though it appeared as if he had slid under the tag. This though, served to ignite the Kettleers as they began a two out rally as Matt Angle ( Ohio State , 2 for 3) walked to put men on first and second. Eric Farris (Loyola Marymount, 2 for 3, 1 RBI) took advantage of the opportunity by singling to bring Tony Thomas ( Florida State , 1 for 4) home for the game-deciding run. Jeff Rea ( Mississippi St , 2 for 4, 1 RBI) then singled to bring Angle home and give the Kettleers the security of a two run lead, which they wouldn't relinquish.

  Brown put the Harwich batters down one-two-three in the ninth inning, securing the Kettleers their eighth victory of the season and giving him his second win of the season. Cotuit now looks to continue their solid play as they travel to play Chatam for the first time this season.