Cotuit uses big fifth inning to edge Bourne

By: Zach Pekale

As of recent, the fifth inning has not been kind to the Bourne Braves.

A day after the Brewster Whitecaps scored four fifth-inning runs, the Cotuit Kettleers posted three runs in the frame, which proved to be the difference in a 6-5 win over the Braves.

Trailing 4-2, Cotuit’s Eric Jones (Davidson) hit a sacrifice fly to shallow left center field that was followed by a two-run single from Michael Salvatore (Florida State).

The Kettleers scored three runs on just one hit, taking advantage of two walks and a hit by pitch.

“Harvey [Shapiro] said that ‘7-8 plays make up the whole game and that’ll determine who wins and loses’ and that’s definitely the key,” relief pitcher Trey Van Der Weide (South Carolina Upstate) said. “They [Cotuit] just had timely hitting.”

Bourne got off to another fast start on Wednesday with its first three runners reaching base before RBIs from Jared Triolo (Houston) and Spencer Horwitz (Radford) gave the Braves a 2-0 lead.

Cotuit responded, capitalizing on an error by Tyler Fitzgerald (Louisville) that scored two runs off of Braves’ starter Bryan Hoeing (Louisville) to tie the game in the third inning.

With the score even, Fitzgerald answered back as he launched a towering two-run home run to put the Braves in front once again.

Struggling earlier in the year, the rising junior has seven hits (two for extra bases) in the past two games, including his first long ball of the summer.

“I’ve changed a little bit in my stance, trying stay more back in my legs a little bit, see the ball a little longer … I made that adjustment mid-game yesterday and it’s starting to pay off,” Fitzgerald said.

Despite the shift in momentum, the Kettleers were able to chase Hoeing, who was tagged for four runs (three earned) and five hits in over four innings.

Though the Braves later tied the game on an RBI double from Triolo, Cotuit went ahead for good when Jakob Goldfarb (Oregon) brought the go-ahead run across on a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning.

Coming Up: Bourne continues its home stand as they welcome the Y-D Red Sox to Doran Park for the first time this season.