Updated July 25 2017
Forest City’s four game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday night as the Gastonia Grizzlies (25-21, 8-10) broke their three game losing skid with a 10-8 win.
The Owls (28-16, 9-8) fell behind early, put together a furious comeback, before surrendering a late homerun to ultimately end the night.
The Grizzlies started off hot in the early innings, scoring the games opening run in the 2nd off Forest City starter Tyler McAlister (Missouri State). It was an error that brought in Lawson McArthur (NC State) to score, making it 1-0.
In the 3rd, Gastonia broke the game open, dropping four runs in the stanza on Owls reliever Zac Brown (Mars Hill).
A solo homerun by Nick Beinlich (Belmont Abbey) doubled the lead for the Grizzlies. Four batters later, Matt McGarry (Belmont Abbey) drove in two more runs, making it 4-0.
The Grizzlies added one last run in the frame on an RBI single by Austin Riggins (Penn State).
Gastonia padded the lead with one more in in the 4th to make it 6-0, leaving the Owls with a very steep mountain to climb.
That already steep mountain became even more difficult to summit when the Grizzlies added an insurance run in the 7th on an error that brought in Riggins to score.
With Forest City appearing to be out of the game, the Owls put together a huge comeback in the 8th.
Carson Jones (Lander) ended the shutout with an RBI double to deep left to start it off. Later, with the bases loaded, Bradley Davis (Appalachian State) drew a walk to make it 7-2.
Two batters later, Joel McDaniel (Appalachian State) continued the madness, driving in two more runs on an RBI single to right. Next, AJ Wright (UMBC) made it a one run game with a two-RBI single of his own.
Connor Grant (North Greenville), who led off the inning with a single, tied the game with an RBI double, making it 7-7.
With new life, the Owls carried all of the momentum to the 9th inning. That momentum was quickly diminished when Michael Wilson (Stony Brook), in a pinch-hitting spot, launched a three-run homerun to put Gastonia back on top 10-7.
In the bottom of the 9th, Forest City’s “never say die” attitude showed once again. The Owls loaded the bases with nobody out, as Gastonia went back to the bullpen to bring in Jacob Breakfield (Western Carolina), who hadn’t appeared in a relief effort all season.
He was able to retire three of the four batters he faced. Collin Dupree (Montevallo) drove in one run on an RBI single to put the tying run at second base, but Breakfield got the next two out to end the game.
The 10-8 heartbreaking loss breaks the four game winning streak for Forest City, heading into an off day on Wednesday.
The Owls will be back in action on Thursday as they take on the Asheboro Copperheads on the road at 7:05 p.m.
Tune in for coverage of the game on Thursday on the Forest City Owls Radio Network or on WCAB 590AM.
To find out more about 2017 or 2018 Owls Season Tickets, please contact the Owls Office at 828-245-0000 or visit the website at www.forestcitybaseball.com.
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:
Zachary Penrice
Phone:828-245-0000