By Jon Mettus
Syracuse University

July 10, 2016

HYANNIS — Cal Stevenson’s one-run single in the top of the eighth inning lifted the Kettleers over the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, 2-1, at McKeon Park on Sunday.

Quinn Brodey (Stanford) hit a double into right field. Then Stevenson hit his liner into center. Hyannis center fielder Treg Haberkorn (Cincinnati) dove for the ball, but dropped it. Roberts sent Brodey home and he slid just under the tag at the plate for the eventual winning run.

On the mound

Matt Ruppenthal (Vanderbilt) got the start in his first game since June 22. Ruppenthal sustained a concussion on June 24 when he hit his head on the “pee-wee” dugout in Hyannis, Cotuit head coach Mike Roberts said. The right-hander lasted three innings, gave up four hits and only let in one run — a home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Eddie Muhl (George Washington) pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for his 11 appearance of the season. He gave up just one hit and struck out three batters.

Josh Roberson (UNC Wilmington) was credited with a six-out save.

At the plate

Brodey started the game off with a home run. He hit the second pitch of the game beyond the right field fence for his second homer of the season. Brodey has driven in a run in three of the last four games.

Brodey was 3-for-5 on the day and accounted for the majority of the team’s hits — it had five total. He also scored both of Cotuit’s runs.

In the field

In the bottom of the third inning, Ruppenthal gave up a line drive deep to right-center field that Cal Stevenson (Arizona) dove and missed. Devon Gradford (UCSB) throw the ball in from the warning track and the cutoff throw went to third. Haberkorn ran too far off third and had to go home. Tim Susnara tagged him just as he slid into the plate for the out and to keep the game locked at 1-1.

After two runners got on base to start the bottom of the 8th inning, a bunt moved the runner to second and third. Carl Stajduhar (New Mexico) hit a shallow fly ball into center field. Stevenson got under it and fired a strike home that beat the runner by several steps that prevented the tying run and ended the inning.

Stevenson jogged nonchalantly off the field and was the only one that realized that was the third out.