Offense Explodes for 12 Runs as Marlins Down Sharks
June 18, 2014 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Morehead City Marlins News Release
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C- Morehead City got an offensive outburst on Wednesday night, putting up a season-high 12 runs in a 12-9 win over the Wilmington Sharks at Big Rock Stadium.
The Marlins used a four-run second inning and a seven-run fourth inning to jump out to a 12-5 lead - a lead which was at times challenged by Wilmington, but never surrendered by the Marlins.
The offense was paced by Blake Graham, who hit in the two-hole for the first time this year. Graham went 4-for-5, with the hits coming in each of his first four at bats. In those four at bats he had a double, three singles, three RBI, and two runs. His four hits were the most any Marlins player has had in a game this season, and they helped Graham out of a 3-for-20 slump coming into the game.
Morehead City got offensive contributions from up and down the lineup. Matt Simmons continued his hot-hitting, going 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Simmons now has a team-high seven multi-hit games, and is leading the team in hitting at .322
Kyle Carroll reached base four times, twice by walk and twice with singles. He also drove in a run, stole a base and scored twice. With his 2-for-3 and two walks today, Carroll has now reached base 14 of his last 20 plate appearances, and over that stretch is 7-for-14, with a home run, seven walks, five RBI and eight runs.
Trent Leimkuehler also had a couple of hits, including his second triple of the game as well as an RBI single and two runs scored.
"It was nice to see," head coach Sam Carel said. "Guys came out and swung well, they were aggressive and we saw positive results."
"That is what our lineup is capable of doing all year," Graham said. "If everyone gets on, we have a really, really strong lineup."
As strong as the offense was, the bullpen was just as strong. Marlins' starter Chris Good was hit around in his 4.1 innings, and was charged with all nine runs surrendered. Logan Hershenow came on with one down in the fifth and the bases loaded, and all three of those inherited runners scored, but that was it for the ballgame. The bullpen shut things down for the remainder.
Hershenow came out with a clean sixth and seventh, while Matt Tindall followed up by striking out the side in the eighth. For both Hershenow and Tindall, it was their eight appearance, which is most on the team.
"We have been able to kind of rest our bullpen, the off day really helped us to reload the bullpen and they came out tonight and you saw the results," Carel said.
"The bullpen has been a little shaky at times but I've got to give it to us, we have battled," said Casey Eskew. "We faced some adversity going through all those road games, but this home stretch, I think everyone is going to be refreshed, ready to go, and we will try to get some wins here for the home crowd."
Wednesday's win in front of the home crows came with Eskew on the mound. He allowed a one out single in the ninth, but followed up with a groundout and ended the ballgame in front of 803 fans with a strikeout of Chris Hanson.
"[The fans] help out tremendously," Eskew said. "I'm just now starting to close, and having fans here is just awesome. It's something I'm hoping to get when I go back to school. It's a dream come true to be honest."
"We have good fans and great support," Graham said. "We have been working really hard and it's been kind of a let down for us of late, but it was good to come back tonight and start this home stretch off right."
The win on Wednesday was the Marlins' second of the season, and it ended an 11-game losing streak. Morehead City will have a chance to take the momentum from their win into their game Thursday against these same Wilmington Sharks.
"It can [give us momentum]," Carel said. "Starting tomorrow, [the losses] don't matter. We are 1-0 today, and we are looking to get to 2-0 tomorrow."
Tomorrow's game against Wilmington will be at Legion Stadium, with first pitch 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 (@CPLBaseball).
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Coastal Plain League Stories from June 18, 2014
- Offense Explodes for 12 Runs as Marlins Down Sharks - Morehead City Marlins
- SwampDogs Staff Records Another Double Digit Strikeout Game - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Blowfish Sweep RedWolves in Much Needed Win - Lexington County Blowfish
- Owls Fall at Edenton - Forest City Owls
- USA Baseball National Collegiate Team to Play Columbia Thursday - Lexington County Blowfish
- CPL Announces Select Team Set to Face USA Collegiate National Team - Coastal Plain
- Fayetteville's Farthing Fans 12, Sharks Lose 4-3 - Wilmington Sharks
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