By Zach Kaplan
Penn State University
June 29, 2018
FALMOUTH– Cotuit led 6-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, looking like they would cruise to a win at Guv Fuller Field in Falmouth.
But a crucial two-out error and subsequent five-run rally led to extra innings, where the Commodores would walk off with a 7-6 win on Friday night. Cameron Cannon (Arizona) drove a single up the middle to drive in Kyle Stowers (Stanford) for the winning Falmouth run.
With runners on second and first with two outs, Stowers reached via an error, allowing Will Brennan (Kansas State) to score. Three consecutive RBI hits would follow, allowing the Commodores to come back to tie the game at six. Even though Luke Chevalier (Northern State) allowed five runs, none of them were earned.
After a scoreless first inning, the Commodores would get on the board first. Kyle Stowers (Stanford) jacked one over the right field fence to give Falmouth the early 1-0 lead.
The Kettleers would strike right back with a three-run second inning. The TCU tandem of Adam Oviedo and Zach Humphreys would each get on base, and were subsequently driven in by Michael Toglia (UCLA) and Zach Biermann (Coastal Carolina). Will Robertson (Creighton) drove in Toglia with an RBI single of his own.
Cotuit added another run in the fourth, as Jakob Goldfarb (Oregon) reached with a lead-off walk, and scored on an RBI bunt single by Zach Humphreys (TCU), making it 4-1 Cotuit.
The Kettleers would add two more runs in the sixth, as Peyton Burdick (Wright State) and Michael Salvatore (Florida State) led off with back-to-back hits, with Salvatore driving in Burdick. Humphreys would bunt again successfully, as Salvatore scored from third.
“I love bunting, I think it’s a free hit. When Coach [Roberts] gave me the bunt sign, I just laid one down,” said Humphreys about his successful bunting. “Just playing wiffleball when I was little, we would always bunt. I think it’s a lost art in baseball, but it can help your team a lot.”
Both teams had quality scoring chances in the ninth inning. Toglia and Biermann each hit one-out singles to put runners on third and first, but Falmouth got out of the jam with an 6-4-3 double play. Subsequently, the Commodores had the bases loaded with two outs, but Joey Walsh (BC) came on to strike out Davis Sims (Murray State) to retire the side.
Cotuit will be back at it on Saturday, traveling to Red Wilson Field to take on the Y-D Red Sox. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.