Updated July 18 2014
The bats woke up on both sides after the seventh inning, but it was the High Point-Thomasville HiToms who came out on top Friday using a 14-hit attack to defeat the Martinsville Mustangs 8-6.
Martinsville (16-24, 4-8) took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when left-fielder Kyle Carruthers smacked his second homer of the season to left field. The Mustangs didn’t get much more off of HiToms starting pitcher Jordan Simons (rs fr., Louisville) who held Martinsville back for six frames.
Things took a turn for the worse in the seventh, however. With the 1-0 lead and the bases loaded, Mustangs center fielder Adam Goss drilled a double to right field scoring two and pushing the lead to three. One batter later, another run crossed the plate on a passed ball giving the Mustangs a 4-0 lead.
It was the bottom of the seventh that changed everything for High Point-Thomasville (17-24, 5-8). After Joey Havrilak (rs jr., Akron) led off with a single and stole second base, Ryan Hodge (jr., Gardner-Webb) knocked him in with a RBI double slimming the lead to three. Two batters later, Austin Crutcher (jr., Bellarmine) ripped a RBI double of his own to right-center and after advancing to third scored on a passed ball to take the deficit down to one.
One batter later, Glenn Batson (rs fr., Clemson) ripped the game-tying RBI double to right field before Pete Guy (so., UNC-Asheville) capped his 4-for-4 day with a two-run long ball to give the HiToms their first lead of the day, 6-4.
The Mustangs had more to say in the top of the eighth. After catcher Gavin Stupienski drove in a runner at third with a RBI groundout, Max Beerman tied the game at six apiece with a solo homer. But the HiToms took the lead for good when Havrilak crossed the plate from third on a passed ball and Josh Ingram (jr., Central Oklahoma) notched a RBI single for the game’s final 8-6 tally.
Patrick Upchurch (so., San Diego State, 1-0) earned the win in relief while Laetten Galbraith (rs jr., Louisiana Tech) slammed the door in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the summer.
The HiToms visit McNair Field on Saturday as they face the Forest City Owls. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 P.M.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 22nd season in 2018, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 111 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball..Contact:Nkwa Asonye
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