CHATHAM, Mass.— The Anglers hustled. They fought. They battled. But they came up short.

“We just got beat tonight,” said Manager John Schiffner.

Despite a gritty Chatham performance, the Anglers fell to the Whitecaps, 6-3, Thursday night at Veterans Field. The loss moves Chatham back down to the .500 mark for the first time this year since they were 0-0.

T.J. Zeuch made his final start for Chatham Thursday night. 

The big swing of the game came from Brewster’s (9-9) Robbie Tenerowicz (California), who hit a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning. The long ball puts Tenerowicz in second place on the Cape with three this summer.

On the Anglers’ (10-10) side, all the scoring came from one swing—a three run, bases-clearing double from Nick “Scores” Sciortino (Boston College). The ball short-hopped the wall in the deepest reaches of Veterans Field on a night with no wind. With a slight breeze, it could have been the first Chatham grand slam on the year.

“I got ahead in the count 3-0, and then got a good pitch at 3-1,” said Sciortino, whose parents were in the stands. “I was just thinking fastball, and I got it over the plate and put a good swing on it.”

Sciortino also threw out two runners on the night. The catcher is now on a streak of four consecutive games in which he has thrown out a would-be base stealer.

“He’s a very, very good defensive catcher,” said Schiffner. “He’s as good a catch-and-throw catcher as we’ve had here.”

On the mound, T.J. Zeuch made his third and final start of the year for the Anglers. The right-hander from Mason, Ohio struck out four batters in as many frames before reaching his inning limit for the summer.

“[T.J.] is a really great kid. He’s a fierce competitor,” said Schiffner. “He has all the intangibles. He has the size. He has a chance to be a really special pitcher.

Zeuch was nearly as good as he had been all season for the Anglers, but he was just a shade off. The Whitecaps were the first team to get to him for an earned run, and they ultimately took three against the Panther before the night was over.

Zeuch finishes the summer with a 2-0 record and an ERA of 1.31. He recorded 17 strikeouts to five walks in 20.2 innings pitched. Zeuch will return to Pittsburgh for his junior year this fall.

“It was an absolute blast out here. This was as much fun as I’ve ever had in baseball,” said Zeuch. “I bonded with everybody on this team.”

C.J. Burdick (San Diego) took the loss for Chatham, and Brewster’s Hansen Butler (North Carolina) picked up the win. The trio of Angler pitchers who combined for the final four innings: Jake Godfrey (Louisiana State), James Mulry (Northeastern), and Cameron Stone (Stony Brook), did not allow a run.

“We finally got Stone in the game, and he looked good,” said Schiffner. “He pitched well.”

The game was also the first of the summer for the returning Angler, Jake Fraley (Louisiana State). His arrival was delayed because of the Tigers’ trip to the College World Series, but he picked up right where he left off last summer. Fraley recorded two base knocks and stole a base on the night.

“He hustles. He made a read on [Sciortino’s double] that the ball was over the center fielder and scored from first,” said Schiffner. “That got us going. We’re excited to have him back this year.”

The Anglers next host their East Division rivals, the Orleans Firebirds, in the opening act of a home-and-home on Friday. First pitch is 7 p.m. at Veterans Field. Zac Gallen (North Carolina), who has not given up an earned run in nine innings, is expected to start for Chatham. Orleans is expected to counter with Kyle Serrano (Tennessee). Serrano is 3-0 with a 2.40 on the summer.