Marlins One-Hit by SwampDogs in Home Opener
Published on May 28, 2014 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Morehead City Marlins News Release
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C.- The Fayetteville Swampdogs spoiled the Marlins' home opener Wednesday evening, allowing just one hit in a 4-2 win over Morehead City. The Swampdogs have now taken the first two games of the season against the Marlins.
Right-handed starter Rayne Raven was stellar for Fayetteville, tossing six strong innings of near no-hit ball, while striking out seven hitters in the process.
"I thought Raven did a great job," said Marlins head coach Sam Carel. "He had a great slider tonight, [and] two seamer. His arm slot is very tricky for guys who haven't seen that arm slot and haven't hit off of it. You're talking about some guys that got in there and hadn't hit a lot lately, and to see that arm slot and see the way that slider was working, he was a tough guy to go against."
Raven's only hiccup came in the sixth after he allowed a one out walk and hit by pitch to Davis Kirkpatrick and Matt Simmons. Marlins' catcher Garrett McKinzie, who also had an RBI in Tuesday's ballgame, stroked a double just inside the line, plating both runs and at the time tying the game at two.
That was the only hit of the night for Morehead City, but they still managed to keep it a close ball game throughout the later innings thanks in part to stellar pitching. Chowan University product Scott Edge went four innings, allowing two runs and striking out four, while Jordan Knutson, Matt Tindall and Denis Buckley combined to pitch five frames, allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out 11. At one point, Marlins' pitching struck out seven straight Swampdogs' batters, and 10 Fayetteville's 12 outs from the sixth to the ninth were via strikeout. They also allowed only three hits throughout the game.
"The thing that has stood out for two days has been the pitching," Carel said. "The quality of pitching has been there."
But three errors for the second straight day has made it tough for that pitching to do its job. A costly error to start the top of the seventh put Jacob Whiting on base, and ended up leading to the winning run crossing the plate later in the inning.
"The thing that we need to do is sure up the defense," Carel said. "At the end of the day, it's a game of catch and throw and if you don't consistently catch and throw properly it's going to be hard to win close games like this."
Morehead City will hit the road on Thursday looking for their first win of the season against the Wilson Tobs. First pitch from Fleming Stadium will be at 7:05 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 28, 2014
- Blowfish Handle Grizzlies in 4-0 Win - Lexington County Blowfish
- Marlins One-Hit by SwampDogs in Home Opener - Morehead City Marlins
- SwampDogs Score Another Victory - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Blowfish Fall to Owls 9-0 - Lexington County Blowfish
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