Pilots Sweep Generals in DH
June 26, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Peninsula Pilots News Release
HAMPTON, Va.- The Peninsula Pilots swept the Petersburg Generals in a double header Saturday night, winning the first game 9-3 and the second game 6-0.
For the Pilots, Joe Poduslenko (Seton Hall), Will Shepherd (Liberty), and Franco Guardascione (Jacksonville) all had big games at the plate. Poduslenko batted 1-for-3, walking twice and scoring three runs, Shepherd went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, and Guardascione had three hits with two RBIs.
The Pilots got on the board in the first inning, with Poduslenko walking to lead off the inning. Poduslenko then stole second base and third base, eventually crossing home plate on a single from Shepherd up the middle.
The one-two punch of Poduslenko and Shepherd continued their success in the third inning, scoring another run for the Pilots. Poduslenko walked again to lead off the inning, and again stole second base. Shepherd then doubled to right center field, bringing home Poduslenko and making the score 2-0 after three innings.
The Pilots touched the scoreboard for the third time in the fourth inning. Evan Fernandez (Jacksonville) walked to lead off the inning, advanced to second base on a balk, and advanced to third base on a fielder's choice. Guardascione then batted in Fernandez on a single to right field.
Petersburg returned serve in the fifth inning, scoring two runs of their own. Cody Doyle (Sacred Heart) reached base on a fielder's choice, and Chandler Corley (Armstrong State) doubled to right field, advancing Doyle to third base. Sammy Miller (Longwood) then reached on an error by the shortstop with Corley advancing to third base and Doyle scoring from third base on the same play. Miller then stole second base, allowing Corley to score on the throw from the catcher to second base.
The Pilots' bats came alive in the sixth inning. Cole Austin (West Virginia) led off the inning with a booming solo home run, his first of the season. Fernandez then reached base again on a walk, stole second base, and advanced to third base on a fielder's choice. Guardascione singled home Fernandez for the second time in the game, extending the Pilots' lead to 5-2.
The Generals responded with a run of their own in the sixth inning. With one out, Calvin Scott (Delaware) doubled to left center field and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Joe Schrimpf (Arkansas State) then batted in the Generals' third run of the game with a single to right field.
The Pilots opened up a large lead in the seventh and final inning of the first double-header game. Poduslenko continued his big day by leading off with a double. Kyle McPherson (James Madison) reached on an error by the second baseman and Poduslenko advanced to third base on the play. Poduslenko scored on a sacrifice fly from Shepherd in the next at-bat. McPherson advanced to second on a fielder's choice, and scored in the following at-bat when an error from the first baseman allowed Austin to reach first base. Fernandez got on base yet again, slapping a double to left field and moving Austin to third base. Logan Augustine (Lincoln Memorial) plated the final two runs of the game in the next at-bat, doubling to right field and bringing in Austin and Fernandez, making the final score 9-3 in favor of the Pilots.
Starting pitcher Colin Nowak (Southern Indiana) and closer Chase Randolph (Lincoln Memorial) highlighted the Pilots' pitching for the game. Nowak threw four innings of one-hit baseball, striking out one while getting his second win of the season. Randolph came in the game in the last half inning, striking out all three batters, two of whom got caught looking.
The second game of the double-header went much the same way as first, with the Pilots pulling out a 6-0 victory.
Augustine provided much of the offensive firepower for the Pilots in the second game of the double-header, going 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBIs.
The Pilots jumped out to good start again in the first inning. Josh Close (Liberty) reached on an error and advanced to second base on an attempted throw out by the first baseman. Close then scored from second base on a single from Shepherd to center field.
The Pilots continued their scoring ways in the second inning. Charlie Cody (Virginia) walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third base on a single from Kyle Wrighte (William and Mary). Cody then scored on a fielder's choice from Poduslenko.
Held scoreless for three consecutive innings, the Pilots found the scoreboard again in the sixth inning with the help of one big hit. Drake McNamara (Southern Indiana) got on base for the first time with a double to left field, but it was Augustine who blasted a two-run home run to extend the Pilots' lead to 4-0.
The Pilots extended their lead in the seventh and final inning. Poduslenko got on base yet again with a walk, then moved all the way to third base on a passed ball. Close batted in Poduslenko in the next at-bat with a fielder's choice RBI. McPherson continued the hitting for the Pilots with a single up the middle, and Kurt Sinnen (Old Dominion) batted in McPherson with a one-run double to left field. This would prove to be the last run of the game, producing a final score of 6-0.
The Pilots' pitching combination of Brett Smith (Old Dominion), Paul Hall, Jr. (Virginia Tech), Colt Harlow (James Madison), and Robbie Hiser (Norfolk State) shut down the Generals. Smith, the starter, tossed four scoreless innings, striking out four. After Smith, Hall, Jr., Harlow, and Hiser threw one inning apiece, allowing only two hits and striking out one batter.
The Pilots have three straight road games this week, but come back home to War Memorial Stadium on Thursday to take on Petersburg for Ladies Night and Thirsty Thursday. 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 June 26, 2016
- Sharks Outlast Tobs in Pitcher's Duel - Wilmington Sharks
- Pilots Sweep Generals in DH - Peninsula Pilots
- Tobs vs. Sharks at 5:00 p.m. - Wilson Tobs
- Steamers Bit by Snakes - Edenton Steamers
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