BOURNE — Down 2-1 heading into the top of the 9th inning last night at Doran Park, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks (28-19-1) came storming back with a three-run rally to defeat the host Bourne Braves (24-22-2) in the Cape League’s West Division championship finale, 4-2.
Marshall’s Corey Bird was again the hero for Hyannis last night against the Bourne Braves with a two-run triple in the ninth inning.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
Bourne was eliminated from postseason contention with the loss and wrapped up its season as Hyannis earned a valuable day off today as Orleans squares off down Cape versus the resurgent Y-D Red Sox.
Louisville’s Blake Tiberi led off the ninth for Hyannis with a walk, followed by a Matt Thaiss (Virginia) single that sent the speedy Tiberi to third base to put runners on the corners with no outs. Jake Rogers (Tulane) then lined out to second base for the first out.
But just as he’s done all throughout the postseason, Texas A&M’s Ryne Birk lashed a one-out single to right field to even the game at 2-2 and still, Hyannis had two men on base with Thaiss on second and Birk on first.
Cal-State Fullerton’s Tristan Hildrebrandt then flew out to centerfield for the second out.
In stepped Corey Bird (Marshall) who the night before had put on a virtual hitting clinic and last night proved it was no fluke as Bird hammered a two-run triple for the 4-2 lead and, ultimately, the game’s final score. Bird went 2-4 on the night with two RBI while Thaiss went 2-4 as did Rogers.
Bird’s rope made a winner out of reliever Marc Skinner (Troy) who turned in three shutout innings and struck out two. Northeastern’s Aaron Civale then came in
Northeastern’s Aaron Civale notched the save for the Harbor Hawks.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
for Hyannis in the bottom of the ninth and closed the door on Bourne and its season. Civale, a righty, got the save.
Vanderbilt’s Jason Delay was the big bat for the Braves in this season-finale, as the superlative catcher went 3-4 with one RBI on the night. Mississippi State’s Reid Humphreys went 2-5.
Hyannis will face the winner of the Orleans/Y-D East Division final set for tonight at Eldredge Park at 7:00 pm.
— Story and photos by Sean Walsh, sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
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