Updated July 31 2017
Morehead City Marlins left-handed starting pitcher Heath Mitchem (Catawba College) tossed nine complete innings to secure the 10-2 home victory over the visiting Wilson Tobs from Puck O’Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium Monday evening. Mitchem allowed two earned runs in the ninth frame after tossing eight previous shut-out innings.
Morehead City improves to 22-26 overall and 9-11 in the second half. Wilson falls to 16-34 overall and 7-15 in the second half of the 2017 campaign. The Marlins return to action tomorrow night for the final meeting of the summer against the Fayetteville SwampDogs. First pitch is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start in Fayetteville.
Marlins designated hitter Derek Olenchuk (Newberry College) led the MHC offense attack, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Center fielder Mike Warren (Armstrong State) went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and a RBI, while right fielder Jackson Ware (Mercer) posted a 1-for-4 mark with two runs driven in.
For Wilson, Dawnoven Smith (NC A&T) continued his hot bat, going for 2-for-4 with two RBIs on his two-run homer. Jake Holtzapple (North Carolina) finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles in the contest.
Morehead City got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of RBI singles from Daulton Weeks (USC Aiken) and Will Matthiessen (Stanford) to give the hosts an early 2-0 advantage.
Two innings later, the Marlins tallied two more scores to extend their lead out to 4-0. Olenchuk scored on a passed ball along with a RBI walk from Nick Podkul (Notre Dame) to stretch the MHC advantage. The fish responded with a huge four-run seventh inning to make it an 8-0 contest, highlighted by a two-run single from Ware.
In the bottom half of the eighth inning, a run-scoring single from Warren and RBI fielder’s choice by Sammy Miller (Longwood) gave the Marlins a commanding 10-0 advantage. Mitchem was one strike away from tossing a complete game shut-out before a two-run shot from Smith trimmed the deficit down to 10-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Mitchem then got Conner Leonard (App State) to pop-out and secure the eight-run victory for the Marlins. Mitchem got the win, improving to 3-4 on the season. Tobs starting left-hander Cody Smith (Chowan) took the loss, falling to 1-6.
The Marlins return home for the final Buffalo Wild Wings Wednesday of the 2017 season, hosting the Holly Springs Salamanders. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with all the play-by-play action being called on the Marlins Mixlr Station.
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:Jackson Kaplan
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