Wilmington's Late Runs Corral Mustangs
Published on June 10, 2015 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release
Spreading seven runs across the seventh and eighth innings, the Wilmington Sharks (6-5) defeated the Martinsville Mustangs (6-7) by a score of 12-5 on Wednesday night. The game is the first of five road games in six days for the Sharks, as they improve to 4-3 in road games on the season.
Wilmington was the first to grace the scoreboard, following a double by Alex Destino to lead off the second inning. He would move up to third on a wild pitch, and be knocked home by a Sam Foy groundball backside. Foy would later single in the sixth, extending his hitting streak to six games.
The Mustangs responded immediately with a run of their own in the second, the result of two Sharks errors and a sacrifice fly. Wilmington would go on to commit six errors by game's end.The run in the second was the only run allowed by Hunter Smith (1-0), who was credited with the win after going five solid innings, allowing four hits, striking out four Mustangs without issuing a base on balls.
Matt Whatley drew a walk to lead off the fourth before Martinsville would create two groundouts, one of which would move Whatley to third. Jae Roberts would take one for the team putting Sharks on the corners with two outs. Roberts swiped second - one of four steals for the Sharks - before Whatley would score easily on a wild pitch. Corey Herndon would knock his first hit as a Shark to score Roberts. Brett Smith got in on the action, picking up his first of two hits, collecting an RBI as Herndon scored.
Lane Ward (1-2) was on the wrong side of the pitching decision, lasting four innings, allowing four runs, walking one, and striking none. Wilmington extended their lead in the seventh facing Travis McQueen, the second of five Martinsville pitchers used Wednesday night.
Wilmington's five-run seventh was kick-started by a Brett Smith double, moving up to third on a McQueen balk. Nick Rotola drew a five pitch walk, and promptly stole second base to put two Sharks in scoring position. Gavin Stupienski beat one into the dirt scoring the speedy Smith, allowing Stupienski to reach safely on the fielder's choice. Matt Whatley drew a walk to load the bases, resulting in a pitching change for the Mustangs before facing Alex Destino. Destino welcomed Nathaniel Leon to the ballgame by sitting back on a fastball, rocketing one into the outfield for a standup triple to clear the bases.
The Sharks added insult to injury in the eighth when Whatley poked home Matt Meeder, who reached on an error by the third baseman. Alex Destino doubled again in the eighth, picking up his fourth and fifth RBIs on the night. He finished the night 3-5 with seven total bases, five RBIs, and two scored runs.
Martinsville clawed back by scratching three in the seventh on five hits off Reed Scott, and one in the eighth off Kevin Boswick, the result of two hits. By the end of the game, Martinsville would strand eleven runners.
The Wilmington Sharks will face the SwampDogs at J.P. Riddle Stadium in Fayetteville Thursday night. The matchup will be their second of seven games in the series. The Sharks are not at home until Tuesday June 16th against the Morehead City Marlins.
Coastal Plain League Stories from June 10, 2015
- Wilmington's Late Runs Corral Mustangs - Wilmington Sharks
- Late Run Sinks Blowfish - Lexington County Blowfish
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