Tobs Steam Clams for Second Straight Night

May 30, 2013 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release


EDENTON, NC - Wilson used five home runs and six solid innings from starter Matt Borens to withstand a six-run ninth inning barrage by Edenton and hang on for a 13-9 win in the Steamers home opener at Historic Hicks Field on Wednesday night.

The second leg of the home and home series between the Wilson Tobs and the Edenton Steamers set left-handed pitcher Dylan Shoffner (St. Catharine College) against right-handed pitcher Matt Borens and Shoffner ran into trouble first.

Three walks and an error committed behind Shoffner in the top of the first inning and it was 1-0 Wilson.

Edenton, however, after a Laz Villa (Reedley College) single, tied the game when Josh Hampton (Wilmington University) ripped the first Steamer extra base hit of the season off the left-center field wall for an RBI triple and a 1-1 tie.

The final out of the bottom of the first inning began a streak of 15 straight Steamers being retired that didn't end until the bottom of the sixth when Villa took a two out walk. By then the score was 12-1 Wilson and the game seemed out of reach.

In between the first and sixth inning was an offensive explosion for the Tobs built mainly around four home runs including three of the two-run variety. Luke Lowery hit a two-run home run in the top of the third, Kevin Jordan hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth and in the top of the fifth Collins Cuthrell and Josiah Burney went back-to-back, Cuthrell's being a two-run homer to Burney's solo shot.

Borens was lifted after six strong innings, allowing only two hits and one earned run, one walk and he added six strikeouts. After Edenton added two runs in the home half of the seventh inning, one on a passed ball and one on a wild pitch off Ben Joseph, Cuthrell hit his second home run and picked up his fourth RBI of the ball game. The solo shot made it 13-3 Wilson.

That was the seemingly insurmountable lead when the Steamers came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. TJ Viracola was the pitcher and the Steamers offense greeted him rudely with four straight hits, the big one an Adam Kirsch (Texas Tech University) two-run double to make it 13-5. Jacob Reese (Eastern Illinois University) followed with an RBI double and the Steamer bats came alive with the score now 13-6. Viracola was lifted for Andrew Schorr and he fared no better, after walking Villa to load the bases he proceeded to allow three straight Steamers to knock in runs. Blaise Fernandez (George Mason University) hit an RBI single, Hampton picked up an RBI walk and Trent Miller (Middle Tennessee State University) hit a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 13-9. After Schorr walked Tyler Eager (Abilene Christian University) to re-load the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate, Wilson head coach Austin Love went back to the bullpen.

Emerging was Christian Slazinik to face Kirsch. Slazinik won the battle, inducing a game ending ground ball and once again the Steamers fell to the Tobs, this time 13-9.

"At the very least, our offense began to click in that ninth inning. A lot of guys got their first hits, which is big because of the wood-bat adjustment" said coach Dan Pirillo. "If we hit like we hit in that ninth inning, we're going to win a lot of games this season. We're getting on the right track."

Borens earned the win for his effort and Eddie Perkins (Tusculum College) took his first loss of the season.

For Edenton the bright spot offensively was the sixth run ninth inning to make Wilson sweat. The attack was led by Hampton who tripled and walked twice, earning two RBIs and Kirsch who doubled and knocked in two.

The Steamers are back in action on the road tomorrow, traveling to Wilmington for the first time to take on the Sharks. First pitch at 7:05 PM.



Coastal Plain League Stories from May 30, 2013


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