Waves Fall to Danbury After Late Rally

The Ocean State Waves (1-5) fell to the Danbury Westerners (2-4) with a final score of 15-1 on Thursday night following a rain delay. 

Starting on the mound for the Waves was Kayden Faulcon, who is currently in the transfer portal. Despite the final score, Faulcon delivered a strong pitching performance. The right-hander tossed four innings, allowing just one hit and no earned runs while striking out six batters.

Danbury jumped in front early, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning behind a two-RBI effort from Peter Link.

The Waves threatened to cut the deficit in the top of the third when Cameron Papetti led off the inning with a triple. However, Danbury starter Ian Brown recorded back-to-back strikeouts to keep the Waves off the scoreboard.

A stretch of a scoreless four innings quickly brought the game into the sixth in. The game remained within reach for the Waves entering the sixth inning, but Danbury's bullpen continued to shut down the Ocean State offense. Hayden Tarsia kept the Waves hitless across two innings of relief pitching to protect Danbury's lead.

The turning point came in the bottom of the sixth. Danbury broke the game open by putting up seven runs against two Waves pitchers to take a large lead over the Waves. The Westerners added another run in the seventh to extend their advantage.

Ocean State's only run came in the top of the eighth inning. After Gabriel Milano singled to left field, a Danbury error allowed William Mahala to score and put the Waves on the board.

However, the Westerners answered immediately, taking advantage of additional struggles on the mound and in the field to score five more runs in the bottom of the eighth.

While the result was not what the Waves hoped for, Faulcon's pitching provided another encouraging sign for the pitching staff. The Waves also showed earlier this week in their 9-6 victory over the Bristol Blues that the offense is capable of producing runs when the bats get hot. Generating more consistent offense will be a key focus moving forward.

The Waves will return home Saturday to face the Mystic Schooners at Old Mountain Field. Ocean State will be looking to bounce back and earn its first victory of the season against Mystic after falling 8-4 in the teams' first meeting on Monday.