Marlins Drop Season Opener to SwampDogs, 5-3
Published on May 27, 2014 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Morehead City Marlins News Release
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C.- The Morehead City Marlins dropped their season opener in Fayetteville last night by a final of 5-3.
It was a two-run eighth inning that gave Fayetteville their first lead of the game, and proved to be all they would need in a come-from-behind win. Swampdogs' shortstop Kam Stewart led off the inning with a walk and then stole second, advancing to third with nobody out when the throw from catcher Garrett McKinzie sailed into centerfield. Marlins' pitcher Daniel Lewis was able to get two consecutive outs without the run scoring, but an RBI single from Lane Paul, and RBI double from Palmer Page put Fayetteville ahead for good.
It was a game that turned sour on the Marlins late after a tremendous start.
Five batters into the ballgame, Morehead City had already scored two runs off of starting pitcher Ricky Rivera. Rivera struggled again in the second, allowing a leadoff hit to Sam Delaplane before surrendering a long RBI double to Scott Edge. By the end of two innings, Morehead City had three runs on six hits.
"The offense did a really good job," said Marlins head coach Sam Carel. "The one play that hurt us was in the second inning when the double play was tuned- Quincy hit that ball hard."
The play to which he was referring was in the second with one out and the bases loaded, and the Marlins already up by three. Quincy Nieporte smashed a ball to shortstop, but it was right at Stewart, who started the double play to end the inning, preventing certain damage.
After that, Rivera calmed down, retiring ten of the next 11 Marlins he faced. Four Fayetteville relievers then combined to throw four scoreless innings en-route to the victory.
While the Marlins' offense was working hard in the early innings, so was starting pitcher Sam Mersing. Mersing, who had just one start during his NCAA season at Pittsburgh, retired the first nine batters he faced. He ended up tossing 5.1 innings, allowing three unearned runs while striking out four.
"He commanded his off-speed stuff well, [and] he got ahead of hitters," Carel said.
Mersing was just one bright spot of many for Morehead City despite the loss. All but two Marlins' starters collected a hit in the ballgame, with Tyler Burden (2-for-4, double) and Delaplane (3-for-4, double, run) collecting multi-hit games.
"The way we competed, the way our guys came out and kept everything loose - if we continue to do that it's going to be a good year," Carel said.
The Marlins will play the same Fayetteville Swampdogs Wednesday evening at 7:05 for the home opener at Big Rock Stadium. All tickets will be just $5 because of the Marlins' fifth anniversary celebration, and gates will open at 6 p.m.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 18th season in 2014, the CPL features 14 teams playing North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 1,100 alumni drafted and 65 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as CPLBaseball).
Coastal Plain League Stories from May 27, 2014
- It's Opening "Pink" Night at the Cap - Lexington County Blowfish
- Marlins Drop Season Opener to SwampDogs, 5-3 - Morehead City Marlins
- SwampDogs Dispatch Marlins in Thrilling Opener - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- 2014 HiToms Summer Camps Set - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
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