HiToms Down Owls in Extras
July 24, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release
THOMASVILLE, N.C. - The Thomasville HiToms defeated the Forest City Owls in 12 innings, 7-6, Sunday night at Finch Field. The Owls fall to 10-9 in the second half and 26-20 overall, while the HiToms improve to 13-7 in the second half and 27-21. Thomasville owns a 2 game lead over the Owls atop the West Division standings. The Owls are 3-3 in extra innings this season, while the HiToms are 4-1 in extras.
Danny Healey (N.C. State) took the mound for Forest City. Healey tossed four innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits while striking out five batters and walking three. Thomasville sent Austin Moyer (Catawba) to the mound. Moyer worked six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while recording four strikeouts and three walks.
Cole Sturgeon (Louisville) earned his second victory of the season, while Brennan Huelse (VCU) took his second loss of the summer.
Dusty Quattlebaum (Gardner-Webb) continued his explosive form from last night, belting a two-run home run in the top of the second inning to put the Owls ahead first, 2-0.
The HiToms posted a three-spot in the bottom of the third inning. Matt Dillon (Guilford Tech) put Thomasville on the board with an RBI single that scored Zack Briggs (Appalachian State). Two at-bats later, Cole Sturgeon's (Louisville) groundout allowed James Harris (Wake Forest) to score. Immediately afterwards, Jacob Fisher (Southeastern Louisiana) ripped a double down the right field line, scoring Brock Hebert (Southeastern Louisiana). Thomasville led 3-2 after three frames.
Forest City recaptured the lead in the top of the fourth, when Eric Fisher blasted a frozen rope two-run homer to put the Owls ahead, 4-3. Thomasville capitalized on several Owls defensive mistakes in the bottom of the fifth, sending nine batters to the plate and bringing home three runs. The HiToms owned a 6-4 lead after five frames.
Forest City added a couple of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Jordan Betts (Duke) scored on a passed ball with Michael Basil (Indiana) at the plate. An at-bat later, Buddy Sosnoskie smacked a single into left field that rolled all the way to the wall. Quattlebaum scored the tying run, but Basil was gunned down at home to end the inning. The HiToms loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Owls reliever Ryan Tezak (West Virginia) retired three consecutive batters to force extra innings with score knotted up at 6-6.
The game dragged out to the twelfth inning, when Hebert blooped a single into left center field past a sliding Diamaduros that allowed Briggs to scamper home and wrap the game up for the HiToms.
The Owls return to action tomorrow night at McNair Field, hosting the Gastonia Grizzlies. Forest City and Thomasville will square off for the final time this season on Tuesday night at McNair Field.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from July 24, 2011
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- HiToms Down Owls in Extras - Forest City Owls
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