Pilots win Game 1, 6-5 over Sharks
August 5, 2015 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Peninsula Pilots News Release
HAMPTON, Va. - The Peninsula Pilots won a hard-fought battle in the first game of the 2015 CPL Petitt Cup playoffs with a 6-5 victory over the Wilmington Sharks at War Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night.
The two teams will continue the series in Wilmington with Game 2 on Thursday night at the Shark Tank at 7:05. Game 3 will be played on Friday night at 7:05 if necessary.
The teams traded zeroes for the first few innings before the Pilots struck first in the third inning. Hunter Taylor (South Carolina) led off the inning with a single up the middle before moving to second on an error on a ball hit by Luke Toms (Lee). After a groundout by Garrett Brooks (East Carolina) moved the runners into scoring position, Nick Lustrino (Old Dominion) lined a two-run double to right field for the first lead of the game.
The Sharks did not take long to respond as they quickly answered with two runs against CPL's win leader, Taylor Edens (VMI). Brett Smith (Bucknell) drew a one-out walk, only the third walk issued by Edens all season. Smith advanced to second on a wild pitch and ran to third on a throwing error before Matt Whatley (Oral Roberts) doubled to score Smith and the Sharks were within one run. The Shark's RBI leader, Alex Destino (South Carolina) followed with a RBI single through the right side and the game was tied at two. Sam Foy (Davidson) hit a single to put runners on the corners but Edens got the final out on a groundout to prevent any further damage.
Peninsula retook the lead in the fourth when Dom Thompson-Williams (South Carolina) scored on a ground out by Will Shepherd (Liberty). Thompson-Williams led off the inning with a single before swiping second. After a wild pitch moved him over to third, Shepherd gave the Pilots a 3-2 lead with the ground out.
The Pilots added two more runs in the fifth inning to push their lead to 5-2. Connor Myers (Old Dominion) led off the inning with a triple and came around to score on Brooks' double to right field. After a fielder's choice, back to back singles by Jimmy Kerrigan (VCU) and Thompson-Williams scored Lustrino for a three-run lead.
The very next inning, the Pilots added a crucial insurance run on a RBI single by Myers to take a 6-2 lead.
Wilmington closed the gap within two with two runs in the seventh inning. A RBI double by Nick Rotola (Oral Roberts) scored Joseph Roberts (North Greenville) to make it 6-3. After a pitching change, the Sharks had the bases loaded with one out. A sacrifice fly by Whatley pulled the Sharks within two but Grant Painter (Lincoln Memorial) was called on to face Destino in a battle of left-handers. Painter won the battle forcing Destino to pop out and strand the potential tying run on the bases.
The Sharks pulled within one when a RBI double by Roberts scored Foy but Dario Santangelo (Mount Olive) was able to strand Foy at second with back to back strikeouts. Robbie Hiser (Norfolk State) made quick work of the Sharks in the ninth, only needing four pitches to get three outs for the save.
Edens was credited with the win, tossing 6 1/3 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits and striking out one. Hunter Smith (UNC-Greensboro) took the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings of work.
The two teams continue their series in Wilmington on Thursday night for Game 2 and if necessary, Game 3 on Friday night. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:05. 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 @PeninsulaPilots. Use the #PilotsNation to spread the word about the Pilots!
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Coastal Plain League Stories from August 5, 2015
- Pilots win Game 1, 6-5 over Sharks - Peninsula Pilots
- Pilots Sink Sharks 6-5 in Round 1 Opener - Wilmington Sharks
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