After a solid win Sunday, Chatham failed to make it two in a row on Monday as the bats fell asleep again in a 6-1 loss to the Commodores in Falmouth.
A's batters struck out 14 times against Falmouth starter Christian Friedrich (Eastern Kentucky) and a host of relievers. Six of those 14 strikeouts were looking as A's continually ended plate appearances with bats on their shoulders. The only run Chatham scored was unearned, the result of an error by Commodore shortstop David Adams (Virginia) in the eighth.
Chatham starter Collin McHugh (Berry College) walked three in his four innings and two of those baserunners came around to score. In the third, Falmouth designated hitter Preston Claiborne (Tulane) walked to start the inning. After moving to second on a groundout, Claiborne took third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch to plate the first Commodore run.
McHugh surrendered two more runs in the fourth on singles by Matt Nuzzo (Brown) and Claiborne.
In the fifth, reliever Mitch Houck (Central Florida) hurt his own cause when an errant pickoff throw to second base soared into the outfield. The Falmouth runner kept going after reaching third and the A's defense never reacted, allowing the Commodores to score their fourth run.
Chatham's best chance to rally came in the top of the seventh when Zach Zaneski (Rhode Island) singled and Richie Tri (Central Connecticut St.) followed with a walk. After Mark Ostrander (Maine) struck out looking, Travis Beausoleil reached on a bunt single and the bases were loaded with one out. Addison Johnson (Clemson), however, hit a dribbler right back to the pitcher that resulted in a 1-2-3 double play that squashed the comeback attempt.
The A's return home Tuesday to face the Wareham Gatemen at 7pm.
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