Updated June 23 2017
The Morehead City Marlins could not overcome the early four-run deficit, falling to the host Wilson Tobs by a final score of 9-5 from Historic Fleming Stadium Friday evening. Wilson tallied four runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab the 4-1 advantage and never looked back. Wilson scored seven total runs in the first three innings to bury the Marlins early in the contest.
Morehead City is now 11-10 overall, while Wilson improves to 6-13. The Marlins return home to the friendly confines of Puck O’Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium tomorrow night, hosting the Edenton Steamers for a 7:05 p.m. start on Scout Night at the ballpark. All of the play-by-play action can be heard on the CPL Web Pass with updates being provided via Twitter (@mhcmarlins). Pre-game coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. on the Marlins Radio Network.
MHC first baseman Nick Podkul (Notre Dame) led the Marlins’ bats with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate and one run scored. Left fielder Derek Olenchuk (Newberry) and second baseman Steven Taylor (Mercer) each tallied a team-high two RBIs, finishing 1-for-5 in the game. Shortstop Chandler Corley (Armstrong State) went 1-for-5 with a team-leading two runs scored.
For Wilson, shortstop Alex King (Saint Louis) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while first baseman Shane Shepard (NC State) finished 2-for-3 with a trio of runs scored and two RBIs. Right fielder Josh Ladowski (North Carolina) posted a 2-for-4 mark and a game-high three runs driven in.
The Marlins got on the board first with a RBI double from Olenchuk scoring Corley to give the visitors an early 1-0 advantage in the opening frame. Wilson answered quickly with a RBI double from Kyle Butler (Radford) followed by a RBI single off the bat of Shepard to give the Tobs a 2-1 lead. Wilson then added a pair of insurance runs on a two-RBI double by Ladowski to extend the advantage out to 4-1.
A solo home run from Butler made it 5-1 in the bottom frame of the second inning before a two-RBI single from MHC second baseman Steven Taylor (Mercer) trimmed the deficit down to 5-3 in the top frame of the third. Wilson soon added four unanswered scores in the bottom of the third, fifth and sixth innings to make it 9-3 Tobs.
Morehead City would continue fighting in the top of the eighth on a RBI groundout from Olenchuk and run-scoring single from third baseman Trevor Putzig (Tennessee Tech) to cut the margin down to 9-5. The Marlins would then be retired in order in the top of the ninth inning, securing the four-run victory for Wilson. MHC left a season-high 14 runners on base including the bases loaded twice in the contest.
Tobs starting right-handed pitcher Casey Williams (Liberty) got the win, improving to 2-2. Marlins starting righty Patrick McDonald (Notre Dame) took the loss, falling to 1-2. MHC righty Freddie Beamon (USC Aiken) went 2 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on a single hit with a game-high five strikeouts to lead the Marlins pitching staff.
Following the home meeting with Edenton tomorrow night, the Morehead City Marlins hit the road for consecutive games at Wilson Sunday evening (June 25) and Wilmington the next day (June 26). MHC hosts its lone mid-week game Tuesday night (June 27) versus Wilson. All first pitches are scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start.
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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