By Jon Mettus
Syracuse University

July 13, 2016

BREWSTER — The Kettleers picked up their first three-game winning streak of the season by beating the Brewster Whitecaps, 5-2, at Stony Brook Field on Wednesday.

At the plate

Cotuit broke open the game with a three-run fifth inning to turn a 2-1 lead into a 5-1 advantage.

The Kettleers lucked out a bit when A.J. Balta (Oregon) struck out on a ball in the dirt. He dropped the bat and ran out of the box on the dropped third strike and wound up kicking the ball down the first base line. The umpires missed it and Cotuit had runners on the corners with one out.

The next batter, Pat Dorrian (Lynn), put down a bunt that the pitcher whiffed trying to pick up. Quinn Brodey (Stanford) scored on the play and Tim Susnara (Oregon) hit Balta home with a line drive into right field. Greyson Jenista (Wichita State) capped the scoring for the inning with a sacrifice fly out to left field.

Dorrian was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and a run. Susnara was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

On the mound

Cotuit reliever Connor Simmons (Georgia Southern) entered the game in a big jam in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ross Achter (Toledo) had just walked a run in and Simmons had to pick up the pieces with just one out.

Kel Johnson (Georgia Tech) was the first obstacle. Simmons struck him out swinging on a breaking ball. Julian Infante (Vanderbilt) proved to be more difficult. With the count 3-1, Simmons threw a curveball low that Infante couldn’t hit. Kettleers head coach Mike Roberts clenched his teeth, seemingly nervous about the pitch. Simmons came back and threw a curveball again, this time in the dirt, and Infante struck out swinging.

Cal Becker (Sonoma State) got the start and went 2 2/3 innings. He gave up two hits and one run.

Josh Roberson (UNC Wilmington) picked up his second save of the season by shutting out Brewster for the last 2 2/3 innings.

Up next

The Kettleers are off on Thursday, then head to Harwich to take on the Mariners on Friday at 6:30 p.m.