Orleans, Mass. — Despite posting an early lead of three by the fourth inning, the Anglers (4-4) fell to the Orleans Firebirds (4-5) 4-3 at Eldredge Park, Orleans Thursday. The contest marks Chatham’s third consecutive loss this week.

Catcher Shea Langeliers (Baylor) opened scoring with an RBI in the top of the third, before first baseman Nick Patten (Delaware) drove center fielder Jacob Olson (South Carolina) home on an RBI single. Left fielder Cody Roberts (North Carolina) crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth to widen the advantage.

Orleans’ Romy Gonzales (Miami) ran home on an error in the bottom of the fifth, before Brandon Riley (North Carolina) posted an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. Cesar Salazar (Arizona) hit a two-run home run to reclaim the lead for the Firebirds.

“Tonight was just one of those nights where we didn’t come through every time,” Langeliers said. “They came through enough just to come out on top.”

Starter Taylor Luciani (Quinnipiac) kept Orleans off the basepaths with no earned runs and one strikeout over 4.0 innings. Nick Silva (Maine), Eli Nabholz (Millersville) and Andre Pallante (California - Irvine) combined for 4.0 innings of relief. Silva took the loss for Chatham, allowing three earned runs over 2.0 innings.

Graeme Stinson (Duke) handed Chatham three earned runs with seven strikeouts over 3.1 innings, before Jake Wong (Grand Canyon), Brett Daniels (North Carolina) and Josh Hiatt (North Carolina) shared the game in relief. Hiatt earned the save with two strikeouts over 1.0 scoreless innings.

“Every night, you’re going to face really, really good pitchers, and we saw them again tonight,” said field manager John Schiffner. 

Despite posting five hits in the contest, the Anglers struck out 17 times in total.

“We’ve got to put the ball in play better than that,” Schiffner said. “We have to cut down strikeouts.” 

The Anglers will face the Harwich Mariners (3-5) for the first time this season at Veterans Field Friday.

“We’re not the type of kids to get down,” Langeliers said. “We’re just going to go out in the next game and play hard again.”