Grizzlies Outlast Owls, 7-4

Published on August 1, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release


FOREST CITY, N.C. - The Gastonia Grizzlies defeated the Forest City Owls, 7-4, in 11 innings on Monday night at McNair Field. The Owls fall to 14-13 in the second half and 30-24 on the season, while the Grizzlies improve to 15-12 in the second half and 28-26 overall. Forest City is now 3-4 in extra-inning games, while Gastonia jumps to 3-2 in extra-inning contests.

Both teams received excellent performances from their starting pitchers. Forest City's Andrew Brown (Akron) threw eight innings, giving up two runs (none earned) on five hits, recording six strikeouts and two walks. Gastonia's Ben Carlson (Furman) hurled seven innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out three batters.

The game ultimately became a battle of the bullpens, with the Grizzlies' Derek Epps (NW Oklahoma State) coming out on top, earning his first victory of the season after blowing a save in the tenth inning. Ryan Quick (Austin Peay) took his second loss of the season for Forest City after giving up three runs in the top of the 11th inning.

The Grizzlies opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Tyler White (Western Carolina) sent a groundball to the left side of the infield. What could have ended in an inning-ending double play took an ugly turn for the Owls, as Forest City 2B Michael Basil's (Indiana) throw to first went awry, allowing Jordan Lurie (UNC Asheville) and Dan Hennigan (Franklin Pierce) to score.

Forest City got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. With runners on first and third and two outs, Dusty Quattlebaum (Gardner-Webb) laid down a gorgeous squeeze bunt down the third base line, bringing Reed Harper (Austin Peay) home. The Owls would take the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. First, Konstantine Diamaduros (Wofford) singled Buddy Sosnoskie (Francis Marion) home. A couple of at-bats later, Craig Manuel (Rice) sent a single to right field that sent Diamaduros across the plate. Forest City led Gastonia 3-2 after five frames.

The Owls called on Izokovic to protect their one-run lead in the top of the ninth inning. Justin Vsquez (Belmont Abbey), however, had other plans. The Grizzlies RF crushed a solo home run over the right field wall, tying the proceedings at 3-3. Forest City was retired in order in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.

The Grizzlies took the lead in the top of the tenth inning, taking a page out of Forest City's book when White laid down a squeeze bunt of his own down the third base line that allowed Hennigan to race home. Gastonia, nursing a 4-3 lead, sent Epps to shut down the Owls in the bottom of the tenth. Instead, the Owls tied the game on Manuel's single to left center field, which scored Sosnoskie to score. The contest dragged on into the 11th inning tied 4-4.

Gastonia proceeded to score three runs in the top of the 11th inning. Grant Gadjosz (UNC Asheville) broke the tie by scoring on a wild pitch by Quick. Two at-bats later, Lurie blooped a single to left center, scoring Hennigan and Benji Jackson (Gardner-Webb). The Owls could not cut into Gastonia's three-run lead in the bottom of the frame, mustering just one hit off Epps in their half of the 11th.

Sosnoskie and Manuel each finished 3-for-5 for Forest City. Sosnoskie scored a pair of runs while Manuel drove two runs in. Gajdosz finished 3-for-5 with a run scored for Gastonia, while Lurie contributed two RBIs and a run.

The Owls and Grizzlies will face off in tomorrow night's regular season finale at Sims Legion Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 PM.

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Coastal Plain League Stories from August 1, 2011


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