A battle between the two hottest teams in the Cape Cod Baseball League did not disappoint one bit.

The Bourne Braves (13-13-1) exploded for eight runs in the first inning as it appeared set to run away for their third straight win, but the Wareham Gatemen made them work for it.

The Braves, who climbed to within a point of the Gatemen (14-14) for the top spot in the West Division, held on for a 9-8 victory on Friday after surviving a seventh inning collapse and the tying run stranded on second base in the final frame.

A pair of Arkansas teammates aided the offensive effort as Camden Kozeal followed up a Kuhio Aloy single that drove in two runs with a three-run home run that made it 5-0 to the Braves.

The two finished a combined 5-for-9 with five RBIs and three runs scored.

The Braves weren’t done in the first inning.

Jon LeGrande’s (St. John’s) double tacked on another run, while Gavin Kelly (West Virginia) pushed across two more on his only hit of the game. LeGrande went 2-for-5 and scored twice.

Hunter Carns (Florida State), who would score twice in the game, broke up the shutout with a solo homer in the seventh inning in what appeared to be innocuous.

Cue the comeback.

Packy Bradley-Cooney (Alabama) made way for Jack Brown (Louisville) after two innings in which he gave up just one hit and one run—the Carns homer—and struck out four batters.

Brown would end up surrendering six runs (all earned) on three hits and two walks that had the Gatemen within 9-7. Despite giving up a run, Dominic Mauro (Cincinnati) slammed the door for the save in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Carns, Chris McHugh (North Carolina State) and Hayden Yost (Florida) all finished with two RBIs each for the Commodores.

The loss ended the Gatemen’s win streak at seven games.

In other Cape Cod Baseball League action:

Hyannis Harbor Hawks 6, Falmouth Commodores 5

The Harbor Hawks (12-13-3) bolstered their playoff hopes with a comeback victory over the Commodores (12-15-1) after they scored three times in the eighth inning.

Trailing 5-3, the Harbor Hawks erased their deficit and overhauled the Commodores in back-to-back at bats. Jake Schaffner (North Dakota State) had the Harbor Hawks within a run on a sacrifice fly. Jeff Lougee (Duke), who finished 2-for-5, then doubled on a line drive to score two more runs.

Connor Kelley (Texas San Antonio) would come in to close the game out, which ended dramatically after Maika Niu (Arkansas) reached base on a throwing error only to be thrown out at second base.

Standford’s Charlie Bates (2-for-3, one walk) and Arizona State’s Brody Briggs (2-for-2, one home run, two walks) both had productive evenings at the plate and on the base path. The two combined for three RBIs and four runs scored for the Harbor Hawks.

Niu continued to stay in-form at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored in the loss. Kent Schmidt (Georgia Tech) added two hits and two RBIs.

Despite the final result, Laif Palmer (Oregon State) had a strong outing in his second start and third appearance for the Commodores. He pitched three solid innings, where he gave up just three hits and a walk, didn’t surrender a run, and recorded three strikeouts.

Harwich Mariners 2, Cotuit Kettleers 1

The Kettleers’ playoff hopes took a minor hit as they fell in a pitcher’s duel to the Mariners, who have won two straight games.

The two pitching staffs combined to allow just nine hits, while both recorded seven strikeouts. The Kettleers (11-15-2) didn’t give up a walk. The Mariners (13-11-3) surrendered four.

Every run came within the first two innings, led off by Jack Natil (Cincinnati), who scored the Kettleers only run in the top of the first.

The Mariners responded as they scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. Sam DeCarlo (Washington) drove in the winning run on a double to left field in the second inning.

Olin Johnson (North Carolina) moved to 3-1 on the season after he pitched five innings. He gave up just three hits, one run (earned), a walk and struck out five. Cooper Harrington (Liberty) earned the save.

Orleans Firebirds 5, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox 4

The Cape League drama continued at Eldredge Park as the Firebirds (13-13-2) scored twice in the eighth inning on a Cashel Dugger (UCLA) double to overhaul the Red Sox (15-11-2).

The Firebirds scored five straight runs after falling behind 4-0 after five innings of play.

Jack Bell (Texas Christian), who went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and a RBI, sparked a three-run third inning for the Red Sox with a solo home run. Three batters later, Jack Arcamone (Richmond) hit a two-run shot.

The Red Sox took their largest lead of the game at 4-0 in the fifth on a double from Brayden Dowd (Southern California).

No lead on Friday was safe.

A Robbie Lavey (George Washington) ground-rule double broke up the shutout in the sixth inning and the comeback was on.

The Red Sox’s Derek Schaefer (Arizona State) exited the game on a no-hitter after 4 2/3 innings. He allowed two walks and struck out four.

Chatham Anglers 7, Brewster Whitecaps 3

The Anglers (12-13-3) scored seven unanswered runs across the first three innings, including a four-run third inning to hand the Whitecaps (15-12-1) their second straight loss.

The win kept the Anglers in the hunt for the playoffs as they sit just one point behind the Firebirds in the East Division standings.

Jackson Freeman (Northwestern) hit a lead-off home run to start the game. He finished 2-for-3 with two walks.

The Anglers methodically added to a 3-0 lead in the third inning, while the pitching staff carried the shutout all the way into the ninth inning.

A Colton Coates (Louisiana Tech) single broke up the shutout. The Whitecaps’ only other runs came on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly.

Duke Stone (Mississippi State) moved to a 2-0 record after he pitched six scoreless innings, where he gave up just three hits and struck out eight. Texas Christian’s Mason Bixby (three innings, three hits, three runs and eight strikeouts) earned the save.

Isaiah Lane (San Diego) and Jake Hanley (Indiana) both recorded two hits and scored twice for the Anglers, while Noah Miller (Michigan) had two RBIs.

Allen Gunn covers high school sports for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at agunn@gannett.com and follow him on X at @allentgunn.

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