SwampDogs Fall 6-4 to Sharks

July 26, 2013 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Fayetteville SwampDogs News Release


In a close game against the Wilmington Sharks (12-7, 26-20), the Fayetteville SwampDogs (8-5, 25-10) fell just short in an exciting 6-4 ball game.

Brian Celsi (California) gave the SwampDogs a 1-0 lead on his 28th RBI of the season and it looked like it would be another one of those days at the plate, but the Sharks would answer every time the SwampDogs scored.

In the top of the second, Zach Stephens (Tennessee Tech) led the inning off with a deep double to the right-center field wall. He would score two batters later on a Mike Dunster (Clemson) groundout to the right side of the infield.

With the Sharks leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Ryan Nagle (Illinois) struck out to leadoff the inning, but he advanced to third on a throwing error from catcher Austin Below (Mt. Olive). Nagle would score as the next batter Michael Timm (Wright State) roped a line drive over the head of the right fielder to tie the game.

Tyler Moore (Coffeyville Community College) would give Fayetteville the lead on a sacrifice fly to right field. When the SwampDogs score, the Sharks answer. Justin Weaver (Christopher Newport) and Dunster hit back-to-back two out doubles to regain the lead at 4-3.

Dunster checked his swing on strike two but the field umpire said he did not swing. Two pitches later, he turned that fortunate break into the go-ahead RBI.

Fayetteville had their best opportunity in the sixth inning with bases loaded and no outs. That was Brennan James (UNC Greensboro) first inning of relief and he could not record an out before he was pulled.

Stu Jones (Tennessee-Martin) got the job done in the jam and got two quick outs before Below had a passed ball to score Ransom LaLonde (St. Edward's) to tie the game.

In the next frame, Cody Dolan (Winthrop) lined a Ben Burns (Georgia State) curve ball up the chute to give the Sharks their third lead of the game and Stephens would add an extra insurance run in the ninth on a double to secure the 6-4 victory on the road.

Wilmington now has a four game winning streak and they picked up their 14th win on the road. Mitchell Kranson (California), Alex Freedman (Lynn), Dolan, Stephens, Weaver and Dunster all had at least two hits.

The Sharks had an enormous night at the plate en route to their 12 hits and Weaver went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in his CPL-debut. Stephens hit two doubles on the evening and scored twice.

Fayetteville almost hit two home runs in the game as Kranson and Timm both smoked their baseballs to the warning track, but neither ball left the yard. Kranson's was two feet away from tying the game in the seventh and Timm's came with one out in the ninth. Fayetteville remains the only team in the Coastal Plain League without a home run.

The SwampDogs are still 7-3 in their last ten games and they play a doubleheader Saturday night against the Wilson Tobs starting at 6 p.m. EST.



Coastal Plain League Stories from July 26, 2013


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