Jae Roberts's Big Day Not Enough

June 15, 2015 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release


Jae Roberts clubbed two home runs, but it wasn't enough to carry the Wilmington Sharks (7-8) to a win on Monday, as the Sharks fell to the Holly Springs Salamanders (8-9) by a score of 9-5 in Holly Springs.

Connor Johnson recorded the win for Holly Springs, allowing three runs over six innings. He struck out five, walked one, and surrendered eight hits.

The top of the first saw the Sharks take an early advantage. Nick Rotola singled on the first pitch of the ballgame down the third base line. Two pitches later, Matt Whatley singled to the same spot. Rotola would be caught leaning off second for the first out of the inning. Then, in his first at-bat as a Wilmington Shark, Philadelphia Phillies draftee Kyle Nowlin homered to left-center field to put the Sharks up 2-0 early.

Jae Roberts got his game started in the top of the second, when he blasted a solo homerun to left to lead off the inning. This was Roberts's second home run of the season.

Holly Springs gained the lead by spreading four runs across the second and third innings, the result of four hits and one costly error. They would tack on three more runs in the fifth on three more hits to run Hamilton out of the game. Hamilton was charged with the loss after pitching 4 2/3, striking out four.

Andrew Locklear, Trey Jones, Tyler Jones, and Corey Herndon would all be used in relief, and combined for five strike outs and allowing two runs.

One run in the top of the eighth helped Wilmington close its deficit to 9-5. A solo home run by Jae Roberts gave the Sharks life. Roberts finished the night 4-4 with one double and two solo home runs, good for two RBIs and eleven total bases.

The solo blast was followed by Brett Smith's second infield single of the game. Salamanders reliever Johnathan Piriz ended the threat when he coaxed Matt Whatley into a groundout to end the eighth.

Nick Rotola extended his hitting streak to eight games by going 3-5 Monday night with a stolen base. During this span, Rotola is batting .533, scoring nine runs, with six men batted in.

The Wilmington Sharks return to Buck Hardee field to host the Morehead City Marlins on Tuesday June 16th. This will be the first Sharks home game since June 5th. Tuesday is another Taco Tuesday at the Shark Tank, where fans can get $2 tacos provided by Moe's Southwest Grill of Wilmington. For tickets, call 910-343-5621 or email tickets@wilmingtonsharks.com.



Coastal Plain League Stories from June 15, 2015


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