By: Matt McHugh
Northwestern University 
July 28, 2017

HARWICH — It was just his second start in the last week, but Cotuit left fielder Brett Kinneman (NC State) was ready to go on Friday in Harwich, as he smacked a two-run home run in Cotuit’s 7-2 defeat. 

Kinneman has played in 34 of the team’s 37 games this season, but entered Friday’s contest with just two hits in his last 30 at bats. With his average sitting at .217, he found himself out of the lineup in three of the past week’s games. 

Brett Kinneman (NC State) launched a two-run home run, his 2nd of the season, in Cotuit’s 7-2 loss at Harwich on Friday.

“Coach [Mike] Roberts talked about getting swings up early in the count, and I was just looking for a very hittable pitch over the plate,” Kinneman said. “Fortunately I was able to do that tonight.”

Kinneman came close to another home run in his last at bat, hitting one to the warning track with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning. 

“I knew I got it pretty good, but I knew it was probably going to be a flyout off the bat,” Kinneman said. “I was happy with my at bats for the night. Much better than they’ve been as of late. I’ve been seeing more pitches and trying to swing the bat more often, and hopefully that can carry into the next few games.”

The Kettleers were unable to get much offense outside of Kinneman’s swing, picking up just two other hits in the game. Coach Roberts and the Kettleers are trying to implement a more aggressive approach at the plate, as well as some technical tweaks.

“[Kinneman’s] hands are working better than they’ve been working before,” Roberts said. “That’s what we’ve worked on with a lot of the guys — it clicked for him tonight. We need to have more guys that are aggressive and we’ll concentrate on that.”

The Kettleers will return home to host the Falmouth Commodores on Saturday at Lowell Park.

Notes:

• The Kettleers added two new pitchers to the roster, and the team now has just one open roster spot remaining. Left-handed pitcher Josh Andrews (Grand Canyon) and right-handed pitcher Mark Moclair (University of Tampa) were signed and added on Friday. Andrews had a 4.00 ERA in 18 innings out of the Antelopes’ bullpen, and had a 0.62 ERA in 28 innings in the Valley league this summer. Moclair allowed nine runs in 13 innings this year. 
• Terrin Vavra (Minnesota) was out of the lineup with a hand injury, and is considered day-to-day. Zack Kone (Duke) got the start at third base, with Luke Alexander (Mississippi State) sliding over to second base. 
• Thomas Dillard (Ole Miss) moved up to the cleanup spot in Friday’s lineup, after homering in Wednesday’s game at Lowell Park. Dillard served as the designated hitter, and went 1-3 with a walk and a run scored.