SwampDogs Outslug Sharks, 10-8
June 27, 2014 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Fayetteville SwampDogs News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Despite her best efforts, Mother Nature couldn't rain on the SwampDogs' hit parade, as they scored 10 runs in the first three innings, and went on to defeat the Wilmington Sharks 10-8 Friday night at The Swamp.
The SwampDogs struck early, plating four runs in the first inning against Tyler Haswell. Jason Blum was hit on the very first pitch thrown by Haswell, he then advanced to third on a single two batters later by David Palenzuela. Norm Donkin was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Kam Stewart. Stewart laced a two-RBI double to left centerfield. Centerfielder Nate Moorhouse overthrew the cutoff man, allowing Donkin to come in from third, then catcher Jake Kusz overthrew Collin Steagall covering home in an attempt to get Donkin at the plate, which allowed Stewart to come in and score.
The bats kept going in the second inning, when Brandon Metoyer led off with a triple, then two batters later Jason Blum walked. With Lane Paul at the plate, Jason Blum took off and stole second base, and after Kusz threw down to second, Metoyer broke for the plate and came in to score after the return throw home from Sam Foy skipped away from Kusz. Blum took third on the play. Paul would then crack a double, plating Blum to put the SwampDogs up 6-0.
In the third, the 'Dogs would do some more damage against Haswell, when Alex Harris led off with a sharply-hit single. Chase Edwards followed that up with a base hit of his own, and there were runners on first and second with no outs. After Metoyer struck out, Jacob Whiting hit a groundball to Shawn Sanders, who stepped on second base to retire Edwards, then threw wildly to first, allowing Whiting to go down to second base, and for Harris to come in and score. Jason Blum followed that up with an RBI single to bring home Whiting. Paul was up next and hit a ball off the wall in left field that caused Sharks left fielder Christian Wolfe to slam into the wall then crumple in pain on the warning track. Paul kept hustling and was able to make it all around the bases for an inside-the-park home run to put the SwampDogs up 10-0.
The Sharks would slowly start to creep back into the game, scoring an unearned run in the fourth against Cam Knott, then plating three in the fifth inning after five consecutive two-out hits. They would strike again with four in the eighth inning against reliever Justin White to cut the defecit to 10-8.
Hasten Freeman would come in to finish the eighth and stop the bleeding, and pitched around trouble in the ninth inning to earn a four-out save, his first of the season.
Knott (3-1) was the winning pitcher, going seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits, walking two and striking out three. Haswell (1-3) got the loss for the Sharks, going three innings and allowing all 10 runs (eight earned) on eight hits, walking one and striking out one.
The SwampDogs hit the road tomorrow night to take on the Gastonia Grizzlies for the first time this season.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from June 27, 2014
- Owls get quality start - Forest City Owls
- SwampDogs Outslug Sharks, 10-8 - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Fins' Comeback Falls Short - Wilmington Sharks
- Owls Hand Cheek First Loss Of Season - Forest City Owls
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