Late HR Sinks Pilots and Forces Game 3
Published on August 6, 2015 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Peninsula Pilots News Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Kennard McDowell hit a solo home run to break a 6-6 tie and lift the Wilmington Sharks to a 7-6 victory over the Peninsula Pilots on Thursday night to force a winner take all at Buck Hardee Field on Friday night.
Each team has won in their comforts of their home crowds with the Pilots take a 6-5 victory in Game 1 but the Sharks evening the series with the win on Thursday night.
Tied at six apiece in the bottom of the eighth inning, McDowell (UNC-Wilmington) took an offering from Devin Hemmerich (Norfolk State) over the left field wall to put the Sharks on top by one. Evan Brabrand (NC State) worked around a single by Jimmy Kerrigan (VCU) in the ninth inning to preserve the win and force Game 3 on Friday night at 7:05.
The Pilots immediately made an impression by sending nine men to the plate and scoring four runs in the first inning. Connor Myers (Old Dominion) led off the game by reaching on an error by the Sharks' third baseman and advanced to second. After a sacrifice bunt by Garrett Brooks (East Carolina) moved Myers to third, Kerrigan put the Pilots on the board early with a two-run shot. Back-to-back singles by Nick Lustrino (Old Dominion) and Will Shepherd (Liberty) put the Pilots in position to cash in a few more runs. Kurt Sinnen (Old Dominion) drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Kyle Beam (Lane CC) scored Lustrino with a sacrifice fly and Luke Toms (Lee) reached on an error to plate another run and the Pilots had an early 4-0 lead.
In the second inning, Nick Rotola (Oral Roberts) brought the Sharks within two with a two-out two-run triple down the right field line.
Two more runs in the third inning by the Sharks tied the game at four. Alex Destino (South Carolina) took the first pitch he saw from Thomas Busbice (Old Dominion) over the right-field wall to pull within one. Kyle Nowlin (Eastern Kentucky) reached on an error and advanced to second on the play. The very next batter, Jose Hernandez (Mercer), tied it up with a single to center to score Nowlin.
Wilmington took their first lead of the series in the fourth inning. McDowell led off the inning with a walk and stole second. After a ground out moved him over to third, McDowell scored on a single by Brett Smith (Bucknell) to give the Sharks a 5-4 lead.
The lead would not last long for the Sharks as the Pilots quickly retook the lead with two runs in the fifth inning. Kerrigan and Lustrino led off the inning with back-to-back bunt singles. After a strike out, the two successfully accomplished a double steal with Kerrigan tying the game by scoring on a throwing error by the catcher. Kurt Sinnen (Old Dominion) put the Pilots back on top with a RBI ground out to score Lustrino to give the Pilots a 6-5 advantage.
Hernandez brought in Nowlin with a game tying double in the seventh inning.
Peninsula's Game 2 starter, Busbice, tossed three innings and gave up five runs (four earned) while adding two strikeouts. Wilmington's starter, Reed Scott (South Carolina), hurled six innings and gave up six runs (three earned) with eight strikeouts.
With the series tied at one, the two teams conclude their series with a winners take all in Wilmington on Friday night at 7:05. For more information regarding the season, please visit www.peninsulapilots.com. For up to the minute details on Pilots Baseball be sure to "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @PeninsulaPilots. Use the #PilotsNation to spread the word about the Pilots!
Coastal Plain League Stories from August 6, 2015
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