A chance to open up a bigger lead in the west division was lost last night for the Falmouth Commodores as they let an early lead slip away at Bourne’s Doran Park. The Braves rallied from behind to take a 5-4 win over the Commodores, ending a four-game win streak for the visitors.

The night was not all bad, though. The Commodores did not cede any ground in the west division race because Hyannis was blown out by Cotuit at home, 12-2. The Commodores are now 20-16-1 overall and still lead the tight west division. Hyannis and Cotuit are knotted up in second place with each holding 38 points. Cotuit is 18-17-2 while the Mets are 19-18. Bourne is also still in the picture after beating Falmouth as it improved to 18-18-1. Each team has seven games remaining on its schedule.

This weekend could go a long way for the Commodores in wrapping up a playoff spot. The team will host Cotuit tonight at 7 PM and then Bourne tomorrow night at 5:30 PM. On Sunday the club visits Cotuit for a 4:30 PM game and then on Monday Orleans comes to town for a 7 PM ballgame. 

Bourne played comeback ball against the Commodores and pushed across the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh against Jonathan Kountis (Ohio Dominican). With one away, Ross Wilson (Alabama) walked prior to a ringing double into the right field corner by Stephen Batts (East Carolina). With runners at second and third, Kountis delivered a wild pitch that allowed Wilson to scamper across with what would prove to be the game-winning run. Kountis then set down the next two batters in order.

Falmouth would get a man to third in the eighth, but could not push the run across. With one down Ryan Jones (Wichita State) singled. He then stole second as Mike Thomas (Southern) struck out and went to third on a wild throw by the catcher. Bourne retired Brandon Macias (Mt. View) to end the inning, though.

The Commodores struck early to take a 3-0 lead in the first. First baseman Darin Ruf (Creighton) drove in a pair with a double and then Jones plated a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Bourne chipped away at the lead and came back to tie it up at 3-3. Wilson put the home team on the board with a homer and then in the fourth, Mark Krauss (Oklahoma) drove one in and then Bantz plated a pair with a double to left-center.

With a run in the fifth Falmouth went back on top, but they could have had more than just one. Macias and AJ Pollack (Notre Dame) each reached without a hit to start the inning and then got into scoring position on a bunt by Joey Wong (Oregon State). An infield hit by Trevor Coleman (Missouri) plated Macias to make it 4-3. Ruf then reached on a bunt to load the bases.

Bourne starter Nick McNully (Coastal Carolina) slammed the door to end the threat. McNully fanned Kevin Nolan (Winthrop) and Brian Fletcher (Auburn) to snuff out the potential big inning.

The Braves pushed in the tying run in the sixth. Bantz singled in Jordan Henry (Mississippi) to make it a 4-4 game.