When a team wins a lot of close games, there’s an element of good fortune at play.
But it also helps to have a great closer – and the Hyannis Harbor Hawks have that taken care of.
Eric Eck (Wofford) picked up his league-leading fifth save last night as the Harbor Hawks knocked off Cotuit 5-2. With the win, Hyannis moved into sole possession of first place in the West, with a 13-6 record. Cotuit, which had won the first two games of the Barnstable Patriot Cup series, dropped to 12-9.
Patrick Andrews (Clemson) got the win with seven strong innings. Jordan Foley (Central Michigan) pitched a scoreless inning before Eck closed it out. Jay Baum (Clemson) and Austin Slater (Stanford) each drove in two runs.
The three-run win was another in a long-line of close wins for the Harbor Hawks. In their 13 wins, the largest margin was four runs, and that happened once. They’ve won three three-run games, three two-run games and an amazing six one-run games.
Eck has handled the back end of a lot of those games. And he’s done it very well.
Eck has pitched in eight games this summer, and Hyannis has won each of those. He owns two victories to go with the five saves and he has a 1.68 ERA. He’s given up four hits in 10.2 innings.
The 6’4 righty is no stranger to summer success. He starred in the New York Collegiate Baseball League last year, earning top prospect honors from Baseball America. When his season ended, he made a brief stop in Hyannis, pitching in three games late in the season.
Eck struck out seven in seven innings during his stay in Hyannis last summer, and that set the tone for this year. He had 10 saves for Wofford this spring and is well on his way to a similar number this summer.
With their propensity for narrow margins, the Harbor Hawks are happy to have him.
Chatham 4, Brewster 3
Chatham (14-6-1) stayed hot, winning its fourth straight in dramatic fashion. With the score knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the 10th, Landon Lassiter (North Carolina) hit a walk-off single to score Blake Butera (Boston College), who had opened the inning with a base hit. It was Chatham’s third walk-off win of the season. Butera led the offense, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Lassiter also had two RBI. On the mound, Andrew Chin (Boston College) allowed just two unearned runs in five innings. Chad Sobotka (SC Upstate) gave up a run in three innings and Mitch Merten (UC Irvine) struck out two in two scoreless frames for the win. Brewster, who had won three in a row, dropped to 6-14.
Harwich 10, Orleans 0
The Mariners (12-9) scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back en route to an easy victory over Orleans (9-11). Gunnar Heidt (College of Charleston) led the big offensive night, going 2-for-3 with four RBI. Heidt has an average under .200, but now owns a four-RBI and a five-RBI day on the season. Aaron Barbosa (Northeastern) also had two hits while A.J. Reed (Kentucky) had two RBI. The offense was more than enough for Harwich starter Aaron Bummer (Nebraska). He had given up his first runs of the season in his last start, but got back to his scoreless ways on Sunday, working six shutout innings with a season-high six strikeouts. Tyler Burgess (Missouri State) and Jake Drossner (Maryland) finished off the shutout.
Y-D 4, Wareham 3
The Gatemen (4-17) led 2-0 into the seventh, but Y-D (10-10-1) scored one in the seventh and three in the eighth for the comeback win. Andrew Daniel (San Diego) had an RBI single in the seventh before Jose Trevino (Oral Roberts) smacked a two-run double to power the eighth inning rally. Kevin McAvoy (Bryant) picked up the win in relief and Darrell Hunter (Oregon) got the save. Brandon Downes (Virginia) and Cole Peragine (Stony Brook) each had two hits to lead the Red Sox. Trey Killian (Arkansas) gave Wareham six shutout innings. Power arm Sean Newcomb (Hartford) made his first appearance since the season opener and took the loss.
What to Watch
Ben Smith (Coastal Carolina), who ranks fourth in the league in strikeouts, gets the start for Cotuit as the Kettleers host Harwich in a battle of second-place teams. Dillon Peters (Texas), who had a tremendous spring in Austin, will make his first start for the Mariners after two scoreless innings of relief in his debut.