Pilots Resist Generals' Charge
June 30, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Peninsula Pilots News Release
Franco Guardascione of the Peninsula Pilots
(Peninsula Pilots)
HAMPTON, Va. - On a night that featured some torrential rain in the final two innings, the Peninsula Pilots held off the Petersburg Generals for a 6-4 victory on Thursday night at War Memorial Stadium.
Will Shepherd (Liberty) continued his stellar season at the plate by going 3-for-4 with one RBI, his tenth multi-hit game of the season, and Franco Guardascione (Jacksonville) turned in a good day as well, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
Petersburg got on the board early in this one, scoring one run in the first inning. Ryan Cox (Kutztown) led off the game with a double to the left field gap. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt from Sammy Miller (Longwood), Cox crossed home on a fielder's choice from Daniel Barnett (Grambling State).
The Pilots responded with a couple runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning. Nick Walker (Old Dominion) reached on an error to lead off the inning, and Shepherd singled to put two men on base. Kurt Sinnen (Old Dominion) reached on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat, advancing Walker to third base. Walker then scored on a single from Darian Carpenter (Virginia Commonwealth), with Carpenter advancing to second base and Sinnen advancing to third base on the throw. Drake McNamara (Southern Indiana) plated Sinnen with a fielder's choice to the second baseman, making the score 2-1 after one inning.
The Pilots continued their hot hitting in the second inning. Guardascione reached base on an infield single to the third, and advanced to second base after Evan Fernandez (Jacksonville) walked. Guardascione reached third base on a flyout and then Shepherd then got a hit for the second time in two innings, singling up the middle and scoring Guardascione in the process.
Again finding the scoreboard, the Pilots put three men across in the third inning. Carpenter and McNamara both got on base to lead off the inning, with Carpenter being hit by a pitch and McNamara singling through the left side. Cole Austin (West Virginia) then batted home Carpenter on a base hit up the middle. McNamara crossed home in the next at-bat, scoring from second on a single from Guardascione. After advancing to second base on the Guardascione single and reaching third base on a fielder's choice from Fernandez, Austin scored on a double steal, aided by the distraction of Fernandez stealing second base.
Petersburg got back in the action in the sixth inning. Cox reached base again with a single to lead off the inning and reached second after a walk from Miller. Adam Bauer (Murray State) then plated Cox on a base hit through the right side for a score of 6-2 after six innings.
The Generals got two more runs back in the eighth inning, just as the rain started to pour at War Memorial Stadium. After reaching on a walk and advancing to second base on a wild pitch, Cox scored his second run of the night on a bloop single up the right field line from Miller. Miller then stole second base, and Bauer scored Miller on a double to left field. Petersburg could not summon any more runs in the game, however, falling to a final score of 6-4.
The Pilots pitching was bookended by stellar performances from starter Paul Hall, Jr. (Virginia Tech) and closer Robbie Hiser (Norfolk State). Hall, Jr. tossed four innings, allowing only one run on two hits. Meanwhile, Hiser finished off the Generals in the ninth inning, striking out two batters while picking up his first save of the season.
The Pilots have two away games on Friday and Saturday, but come back home Sunday to take on the Edenton Steamers for Tribute to the Military Night and the second fireworks display of the season. 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!
Images from this story
 Franco Guardascione of the Peninsula Pilots |
Coastal Plain League Stories from June 30, 2016
- Salamanders Outlast SwampDogs - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Pilots Resist Generals' Charge - Peninsula Pilots
- Wilmington Walks off over Edenton - Wilmington Sharks
- Throwback Thirsty Thursday Again - Wilson Tobs
- Steamers Rally Past Marlins - Edenton Steamers
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