Eighteen Hit Day Powers Ketts to 12-1 Win
Cotuit, MA — The Cotuit bats woke up in a big way tonight against Falmouth as they picked up eighteen hits in the contest. The Ketts sent eleven batters to the plate in the fourth inning; six would come home to score. Cotuit rode the big fourth inning to get the 12-1 victory over Falmouth. This was the first time the Ketts scored twelve runs since August 1st, 2021, which was also a 12-9 win over Falmouth.
For the second time this season, the Ketts sent Jake Gigliotti (Northeastern) to the mound. The right-hander pitched five and one-third innings of one-run baseball. He punched out two commodores on the night while only letting up four hits.
"He's a veteran; he's experienced. He stays within himself, and he doesn't try to do more than what he is capable of," said Roberts on Gigliotti's start.
After a quick home half at the plate, the Kettleers sent Ryan Galanie (Wofford) to leadoff the second. On a 2-0 count Galanie got a pitch he liked and sent it over the right field fence. The Wofford graduate returned to the lineup after a nine-day absence.
"I was just happy to be out there. Luckily I was able to keep working, and I think the work started to pay off," said Galanie on his two-for-four night.
Ryan Waldschmidt (Kentucky) made his debut appearance tonight for Cotuit, batting seventh and playing right field. In the third, the Kentucky Wildcat hit an identical home run to Galanie's, launching it over the left-field fence. The righty had a four-for-four night. Waldschmidt was also a part of play at the plate as he gunned down a runner at the plate for the final out of the sixth.
"It felt great. I've been here for a few days, just waiting to get out there, wanting to play. I got in there looking for a fastball and just made the most of my opportunity," said Waldschmidt on his four-for-four night.
Falmouth responded an inning later after a sacrifice fly brought home the leadoff hitter for the Commodores. The sacrifice fly was the lone run of the night for Falmouth.
Caleb Lomavita (California) led off the six-run fourth inning. The catcher hit the third Cotuit home run of the night into left-center field. After Galanie walked and Jay Harry (Penn State) singled, Canon Peebles singled to left to bring home Galanie, and with the bases loaded, Waldschmidt got plunked to bring home the third run of the inning. Brett Bateman (Minnesota) continued his hit streak with a rope to the right-field gap to score the fourth and fifth runs in the inning. Lomavita came to the plate again and beat out an infield single for the final Cotuit run of the fourth.
The Ketts scored three more in the fifth, starting with a leadoff double by Harry. With runners on the corners, Emilien Pitre (Kentucky) grounded out to first, but Harry was able to come home and score. Runners were on the corners again for Kalae Harrison sent a ball down the left field line to score Canon Peebles (NC State), who singled in the inning. Teo Banks (Tulane) brought in the third and final run of the fifth after sending a ball to right field for a single.
The twelfth and final run of the game for Cotuit when Waldschmidt once again singled, which brought home Galanie. Galanie had four at-bats tonight, scoring three times and getting a hit in two.
"That's another experienced guy. His leadership and experience are just huge. I love watching Ryan play, and I did last summer. I'm thrilled that he's back," said Roberts on tonight’s return of Ryan Galanie.
The final two pitchers of the night were two-way left-hander Tanner Thach (UNC-Wilmington) and Ben Grable (Northwestern). Thach pitched two and a third innings, allowing one hit while striking out two. Grable tossed one and a third innings and shut the door on the Commodores.
Cotuit will continue the streak of divisional opponents as they travel off the cape to take on Wareham. With the bounce-back win, the Ketts picked up their ninth win on the season, which is top of the western division. Tomorrow's matchup against Wareham will start at 6 o'clock at Spillane Field.