Marty Bechina hit seven home runs this spring for Michigan State. He’s on a bit of a different pace this summer – and Monday he forayed into a different brand of home run, too.
Bechina blasted two home runs for Falmouth, the second of which was walk-off, three-run bomb that gave the Commodores a 10-7 win over Harwich.
Bechina told the Commodore Blog that it was the first walk-off home run of his baseball career. It was his third home run in six games this summer, giving him the early league lead. Three of his seven hits have left the ballpark.
Falmouth needed every bit of Bechina’s power against the Mariners. They fell behind 5-0 after one inning, came all the way back to take the lead, then watched Harwich tie the game in the top of the ninth.
The winning rally started with a walk to Logan Davidson (Clemson) and a single by Josh Breaux (McLennan CC). With two outs, Bechina smacked a 1-2 pitch for the walk-off homer.
Bechina finished 2-for-5 with three runs scored and five RBI. Alec Bohm (Wichita State) also homered for the Commodores, his first of the summer after 11 this spring. Willie Burger (Penn State) had three hits and two RBI. The win went to reliever Matt Mercer (Oregon).
Falmouth improved to 2-4 while Harwich dropped to 2-3-1.
Chatham 8, Cotuit 4
In a matchup of division leaders, Chatham handed Cotuit its first loss of the season and matched the Kettleers for the best record in the league at 4-1. The Anglers have scored the most runs in the league and have tallied at least six in each of their wins. An 11-hit attack and a six-run sixth inning powered the win over Cotuit. Nick Patten (Delaware) continued his blistering start by going 2-for-4, while Bobby Brennan (Palm Beach Atlantic) and Jake Palomaki (Boston College) drove in two runs each. Jacob Olson (South Carolina) hit his second home run of the summer and Jeremy Pena (Maine) went 3-for-4. Cotuit got a home run from John Cresto (Santa Clara). Griffin Conine (Duke) had his fourth multi-hit game in five starts.
Y-D 2, Orleans 1
Kyle Bubic (Stanford) and Logan Gilbert (Stetson) dueled for six innings, each allowing just one run, but Y-D pulled ahead against the Orleans bullpen. Bubic – Stanford’s top starter in the spring – struck out four and allowed four hits for the win. Gilbert, who struck out 107 for Stetson this season, also struck out four and surrendered four hits plus an unearned run. The Red Sox took the lead for good on an RBI single by Kole Cottam (Kentucky) in the seventh. Alex McKenna (Cal Poly) also had an RBI for Y-D, while Jeff Houghtby (San Diego) knocked in Orleans’ lone run. Four Y-D pitchers combined for three scoreless innings of relief, with Riley McCauley (Michigan State) picking up his league-best third save of the summer.
Hyannis 6, Wareham 2
The teams were scoreless into the sixth, when both found their offense and Hyannis found more. Daniel Robinson (Central Michigan) and Tyler Frank (Florida Atlantic) each had two hits and two RBI to lead the Harbor Hawks, while Reece Hampton (Charlotte) had three hits and scored two runs. The late surge made a winner out of starter Michael Brettell (Central Michigan), who went 5.1 scoreless innings. Christian Tripp (New Mexico) picked up his second save. Joey Matulovich (California) tossed five innings of one-hit ball for Wareham, continuing a dominant start to the season. In a four-inning relief outing last week, Matulovich also allowed just one hit.
What to Watch
Two opening night starters will get their second turn in the rotation tonight. Jason Bilous (Coastal Carolina) goes for Cotuit against Bourne. AAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year Mason Feole (UConn) starts for Wareham against Orleans.