By: Matt McHugh
Northwestern University
June 30, 2017
COTUIT — The Cotuit Kettleers (8-8) followed up their best offensive performance of the season with quite possibly their worst, falling 11-0 to the Wareham Gatemen (7-9) at Lowell Park on Friday.
On Thursday, the Kettleers dominated the Hyannis Harbor Hawks with a 12-6 road win on Thursday. They had men on base all day, reaching base 25 times as a team – a season high.
Noah Davis (UCSB) struggled in Cotuit’s 11-0 loss on Friday.
Friday’s game, though, was a different story. The Kettleers couldn’t muster up any offense all game long, finishing with just three hits as their only baserunners.
“It’s kind of difficult to explain,” shortstop Zack Kone (Duke) said. “We faced a really good arm today and he had his stuff.”
In the field, the Kettleers established early on that it wasn’t quite their night. The second inning saw two infield singles, two errors, two wild pitches, a three-run home run, and a five spot for the Gatemen.
Starting pitcher Noah Davis (UCSB) was tagged with the loss, but only two were earned. He also struck out two, walked none, and kept his season ERA at 4.00.
The Gatemen really blew the game open in the sixth inning, picking up five straight hits to score four more runs and put the game out of reach.
“I thought I had good at bats all day,” centerfielder Greyson Jenista said. “The defense has to be a lot better, there were some key errors that really changed the course of the game.”
One major difference for the Kettleers at the plate today – the absence of leadoff hitter Griffin Conine (Duke). Conine was hitting .356 with two home runs and 10 RBIs, but he is in Omaha for the next two days as a participant in the College Home Run Derby.
“It’s tough without Conine now,” Jenista said. “We’ve gotta hold down the ship until he gets back. It’s a little different, but at the end of the day we’ve still gotta get it done.”
The Kettleers fall back to .500 with the loss, but have not fallen below the mark at any point this season. Their longest losing streak was four games, but since then, they have not lost more than two consecutive games.
“I tell the guys every day—if we lose one, we can’t lose two,” Jenista said. Don’t let it become a losing streak. And we’ve been really good at that.”
The Kettleers hit the road again – they’ve won their last two road games – and will play the Falmouth Commodores (9-7) on July 1. The Gatemen return home to host the Bourne Braves (9-7).