Braves, Gatemen end in a 12-inning tie

Tiffany Seal

BOURNE, Mass.—The Braves (7-4-1) and Gatemen (6-5-1) ended Thursday’s first meeting in the first tie of the 2016 season. The teams stayed locked at 7-7 over the allotted 12 innings of Cape Cod League play.

Bourne struck first in the second with newcomer DH Greg Deichmann (LSU) who roped a single to left for the Braves’ first base runner of the night. A failed pickoff attempt by Gatemen starting pitcher Jake Walters (Alabama) sent Deichmann to third who was brought in by Willy Yahn’s (UConn) double to left.

Evan Mendoza (NC State) brought in Yahn and himself with a swing of the bat to left field for his first home run of the season.

Mendoza went 3 for 6 on the night and scored one run.

Walters finished his night lasting four innings giving up three earned runs off six hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

Braves’ starter Christian Taugner (Brown) had a similar line, going four innings giving up three runs off six hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.

Wareham tied the game in the third with a single and double. They continued to slowly tack on runs into the later innings until it was 7-4 Wareham in the seventh.

Mississippi State’s Jake Mangum leadoff the eight with a double and was brought around by David MacKinnon (Hartford) on a fielder’s choice.

The Braves tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth off Cole Stapler (Nicholls State) who went four innings giving up four earned runs off 10 hits, and striking out one.

A pair of singles by Deichmann and Yahn threatened the Gatemen lead, and Mendoza loaded the bases with a single of his own.

Garrett Wolforth (Dallas Baptist) entered the game for Luis Alvarado (Nebraska) and brought Deichmann home on another fielder’s choice.

Mangum tied the game with his speed on an infield single with two outs.

The score would stay tied at seven for the regulated 12 innings of play.

The Braves and Gatemen combined for 33 hits, with the Braves hitting 19 of them; leading to another ugly night on the base paths, stranding a season high16 runners.

The Braves look to continue their offensive surge as they head east to face the Chatham Anglers (6-6) at 7 Friday.

Probable starters are Jacob Stevens (Boston College) and AJ Moore (Kennesaw State) for Bourne.