Chatham (1-4) dropped both games of Sunday’s doubleheader against Cotuit (3-2), the first 4-1 and the second 3-0. The two losses come on the backend of a four-game skid ahead of an off day Monday, as the Anglers haven’t scored more than three runs in a game since beating Orleans 10-2 on Opening Day. 

Manager John Schiffner said after game two on Sunday that his team needs to work out of the rut it’s found itself in, and that the off day could be beneficial before another full week of play. 

At the plate

The Anglers were better at the plate in the first game of the twin bill, collecting six hits but only bringing one run across the plate. They left the bases loaded in the second after Garrett Hampson (Long Beach State) struck out to end the inning, and it was Hampson that later scored when Patrick Mazeika (Stetson) grounded into a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fifth. All of Chris Shaw (Boston College), Blake Butera (Boston College), Ty Moore (UCLA), A.J. Murray (Georgia Tech), Matt Peters (California-Pennsylvania) and Hampson collected hits in the game, but the increase in production from the previous two games didn’t spill over into the day's second contest. 

Moore, who started both games of the day in left field and hit in the ninth hole, had the only hit in game two. It was a leadoff single in the top of the fifth, which started a short rally that was extinguished almost as soon as it started by Kettleers reliever A.J. Minter. 

“We just need to figure it out at the plate,” Moore said. “Feel like we’re right there and I know we are.”

On the mound

Tanner Scott (Howard) made his first start for Chatham in game one and gave up two unearned runs and a lone hit. Cotuit manager Mike Roberts had his players running on almost every pitch, and the Kettleers scratched out two runs without touching much of Scott’s overpowering fastball. He also said he found his curveball a few frames in and struck out six — including five in the first two innings — while walking four. 

“He battled,” pitching coach Jake McCarter said. “He was just getting comfortable and hasn’t thrown to a live hitter in a while. It’s a work in progress.”

Scott was relieved by Paul Covelle (Franklin Pierce) and Jake Dorris (Texas A&M Corpus-Christie), who both commanded their breaking pitches and kept the Anglers within striking distance. 

Max Tishman (Wake Forest) started the second game for Chatham and was very impressive in 4.2 innings of work. The lefty didn’t allow a hit until the start of the third inning, and was only hooked for a loss after Lou Distasio (Rhode Island) yielded a double that brought two of his runners across the plate. 

“I felt great mechanically,” Tishman said after his start. “Once I settled down in the top of the first I felt really good the rest of the way.”

Up next  

The Anglers will have the day off Monday before hosting the Brewster Whitecaps (2-2) at 7 p.m. at Veterans Field on Tuesday. The Whitecaps split a doubleheader with Bourne on Sunday, winning the first game with a combined effort from their entire order. 

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