Pilots Defeat Florence in Shootout
July 28, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Peninsula Pilots News Release
HAMPTON, Va.- The Peninsula Pilots traveled to the Florence Red Wolves for the first and only time this season, coming back from a 5-0 deficit to win 12-7. Two Pilots, Kurt Sinnen (Old Dominion) and Logan Augustine (Lincoln Memorial) had huge days at the plate. Sinnen batted 3-for-5 with a run and three RBIs, and Augustine went 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI.
Florence got on the scoreboard early in this one, putting five men home in the first inning. Reece Hampton (UNC-Charlotte) reached first base on a walk, then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Matt DiLeo (Arkansas State). Hampton advanced to third base on a double steal with Ryan Kent (Morehead State) and scored on the same play caused by an error from the Pilots' catcher. Kent scored from second on one out on a single to center field from Trey Jacobs (UNC-Greensboro), and Jacobs reached second base on a wild pitch. Kody Ruedisilli (Wofford) singled home Jacobs in the next at-bat, and Roger Hall III (Norfolk State) walked to put two men on base. Nate Wierzgac (Lee) then singled to bring in Ruedisilli and advance Hall III to third base. The Pilots' first baseman erred on a ground ball in the next at-bat, bringing home Hall III for the fifth and final run of the inning. Although Florence would be ahead 5-0 after one inning, the Pilots did not back down and eventually tied the ballgame two innings later.
Three consecutive batters reached base to start off the third inning for the Pilots. Hunter Taylor (South Carolina) reached on an error, Logan Augustine (Lincoln Memorial) walked, and Will Shepherd (Liberty) singled to load the bases for Sinnen. Sinnen delivered, singling home Taylor and loading the bases once again, this time for Joe Poduslenko (Seton Hall). Poduslenko produced even more offense, batting in Augustine and Shepherd on an infield single to shortstop. Loading the bases for the third time in the inning, Kyle McPherson (James Madison) reached after being hit by a pitch. All runners advanced a bag on a wild pitch in the next at-bat, with Sinnen scoring the fourth run of the inning, and Devin Mahoney (Saint Louis) ended the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home Poduslenko on the play. This offensive outburst knotted the game at five, but the scoring was not over yet.
The Red Wolves tacked on one more in the third inning. Ruedisilli reached base on a one-out bunt single and scored in the next at-bat, a double from Hall III to the left center field gap.
The Pilots responded with another game tying run in the fourth inning. Augustine singled to lead off the inning then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Shepherd. Sinnen batted in his second run of the game with a one-out single, bringing home Augustine on the play and tying the game at six.
The Pilots took the lead for good in the fifth inning. Darian Carpenter (Virginia Commonwealth) walked and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from McPherson. Mahoney plated Carpenter in the next at-bat on a single to left field. Mahoney crossed home on a one-out single from Nick Walker (Old Dominion), and Walker scored on a single from Augustine to extend the Pilots' lead to 9-6.
Florence cut into the Pilots' lead with another run in the seventh inning. After two quick outs, Kent got on base with a single to right field and advanced to second base on an infield single from Bobby Campbell (George Washington). Jacobs then plated Kent on a two-out single to right field, reducing the Pilots' lead to 9-7.
The Pilots were not done scoring though, putting one more across in the eighth inning. Augustine, continuing his great night at the plate, doubled to right field gap and advanced to third base on a groundout from Shepherd. Sinnen brought home Augustine for his third RBI of the game with a two-out single to left field.
The Pilots put the cherry on top of their 12-7 victory with two more runs in the ninth inning. A one-out single from Carpenter put a man on base, and a Red Wolves error put McPherson and Carpenter at first and second base, respectively. A wild pitch advanced both runners to scoring position, and a single up the middle from Mahoney would score both baserunners in what would turn out to be the final runs of the game.
Chase Randolph (Lincoln Memorial) provided the bright spot for the Pilots' pitching staff in this shootout. Randolph threw 4.1 innings, striking out four and allowing three runs while earning the win in the process.
The Pilots end their four-game road trip with games at Gastonia and Holly Springs on Thursday and Friday, but come back home on Saturday to take on Petersburg for Star Wars Night. 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 and Instagram @PeninsulaPilots. Use the #PilotsNation to spread the word about the Pilots!
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Coastal Plain League Stories from July 28, 2016
- Pilots Declaw Grizzlies - Peninsula Pilots
- Fish Falter Late Again; Drop to Savannah - Lexington County Blowfish
- 10 Unanswered Runs Give Sharks Comeback Win - Wilmington Sharks
- Blowfish Still in Hunt for Playoff Spot - Lexington County Blowfish
- Pilots Defeat Florence in Shootout - Peninsula Pilots
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