Offense comes alive at Chatham

Offense comes alive at Chatham

Tiffany Seal

CHATHAM, Mass.–Coming off their first win in seven games, the Braves (13-13-1) notched another win Tuesday night against the Anglers (11-15-1,) 7-5, waking up the sleeping offense to outhit Chatham 12-6.

Bourne starting pitcher JT Perez (Cincinnati) went four innings, giving up three earned runs off three hits while walking one.

He was relieved by Ronnie Rossomando (UConn,) who earned the win, pitching 1 2-3 innings of hitless baseball but walked three to be taken out and replace by Winthrop’s Zach Cook.

But the win came in the form of strong offense that had been missing from the Braves’ lineup as of late, with Houston’s Connor Wong leading the charge.

Wong went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and showed strong defense behind the plate, fielding a slow rolling bunt down the third baseline and throwing across his body to make the out.

But it was Danny Reyes (Florida) who ignited the run production with a three-run home run to tie the Anglers in the top of the fourth. Reyes ended the night going 2 for 4 at the plate.

The losing pitcher was Louisville’s Lincoln Henzman who went six innings giving up five earned runs off seven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

Bourne was also able to get to the bullpen, notching five hits off Paul Balestrieri (Cornell) over three innings with two earned runs.

Braves pitching continued to cruise through the later innings with a two-run lead that was extended in the top of the ninth when Brennan Breaux (LSU) scored on David MacKinnon’s (Hartford) fielder’s choice and later when Jake Mangum (Mississippi State) was brought home on a single by Wong.

Andrew Wantz (UNC Greensboro) came in to close down the ninth but struggled to get the final two outs. Wantz broke his five game consecutive hitless frames by giving up two earned runs off a double, two singles and one walk. Making the once 7-3 lead a nail biter in the end.

The Braves head back home to host the Hyannis Harbor Hawks (12-15) at 6, Wednesday at Doran Park. Probable pitchers are Alex Eubanks (Clemson) and Bourne’s Brady Miller (Western Oregon.)