Matt Feldman
Syracuse University

June 26, 2016

After a strong starting appearance from right hander Colton Hock (Stanford), Cotuit (2-13) fell apart in the sixth inning, dropping its 13th game of the season Sunday night to Falmouth (8-7), 3-2, at Guv Fuller Field.

Hock threw five innings for Cotuit, his longest start of the season. The Cardinal hurler allowed just two runs on one hit, both runs were earned. He struck out five and walked three, taking the loss for the Kettleers.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning, when Cotuit was finally able to get on the board. After AJ Balta (Oregon) reached on an infield single, he moved to second on a throwing error and to third on a groundout by Greyson Jenista.

With Pat Dorrian (Herkimer) at the plate and one out, Cotuit head coach Mike Roberts put on the safety-squeeze play. After Dorrian layed down a bunt to the first base side, Balta scampered home, running through the base for the first run of the game.

But up 1-0, Cotuit fell apart. After Hock walked the first batter of the sixth inning, he was replaced by Connor Simmons (Georgia Southern). Simmons lasted just two outs into the sixth, allowing one run on one hit and two walks.

By the end of the sixth inning, Cotuit was down 3-1 to the Commodores.

From there, the Kettleers put another run on the board in the eighth on a Cal Stevenson (Arizona) RBI fielder’s choice. But 3-2 is where the score would stay, as the Falmouth defense shut down Cotuit from there on out.

Alec Byrd (Florida State) finished the game on the mound for the Kettleers, lasting two and one-third innings and allowing no runs on no hits and just one walk.