Pilots Win Battle of First Place Teams

June 27, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Peninsula Pilots News Release


HAMPTON, Va. - In a matchup of first place teams, the Peninsula Pilots used a pair of three-run home runs by Darian Carpenter and Will Shepherd to earn a 7-2 rain-shortened affair over the High-Point Thomasville HiToms on Monday night at Finch Field.

With both teams coming into the game with identical 16-6 records and respective first place standings in their division, the Pilots started a three-game road trip off with a bang.

For what seems to be a common trend for the Pilots this season, Peninsula scored first to immediately put pressure on the HiToms. CPL's Hitter of the Week, Will Shepherd (Liberty), led off the game by drawing a walk before swiping second. After a fielding error put runners on the corners, a double by Drake McNamara (Southern Indiana) plated Shepherd for the first run of the game.

The Pilots found the scoreboard in the third inning with the first three Pilots reaching base. Kyle McPherson (James Madison) led off the inning with a double before a Kurt Sinnen (Old Dominion) single put runners on the corners. Darian Carpenter (VCU) smacked a three-run home run, his first of the season, to put the Pilots ahead 4-0.

In the fourth inning, the Pilots had a similar start to the inning with the first three reaching base once again. Back-to-back singles by college teammates, Franco Guardascione (Jacksonville) and Evan Fernandez (Jacksonville) set up Shepherd's three-run home run to put the Pilots up 7-0.

The Hi-Toms broke the continuous zeroes with a pair of unearned runs in the innings. Rain began to fall at Finch Field and there was a brief delay before the game was called due to weather.

Devin Mahoney (St. Louis) recorded the victory by pitching all five innings and allowing two unearned runs while striking out two.

The Pilots continue their three-game road trip in North Carolina with a matchup against Wilmington on Tuesday 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!



Coastal Plain League Stories from June 27, 2016


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