Marlins win streak ends in 8-2 loss to Pilots

Updated August 04 2017
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C.

The Morehead City Marlins saw their four-game hot streak come to an end Friday night in a 9-2 defeat to the visiting Peninsula Pilots from Puck O’Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium. Peninsula posted a complete all-around effort on the offensive and defensive side. The Pilots pitching staff held the Marlins to just three total hits, while the offense 10 hits with three two-run homers in the contest.

Morehead City is now 25-27 overall and 12-12 in the second half. Peninsula improves to 31-22 overall and 15-10 in the second half of the 2017 campaign. The Marlins travel to Wilmington tomorrow night for their final road game of the summer against the Sharks from Buck Hardee Field. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

Marlins shortstop Nick Podkul (Notre Dame), first baseman Will Matthiessen (Stanford) and third baseman Daulton Weeks (USC Aiken) each finished 1-for-3 at the plate, tallying the only three hits of the game for Morehead City. Both runs for the Fish were scored on passed balls.

For Peninsula, Drake McNamara (Southern Indiana) topped the Pilots offensive charts going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs. Conor Davis (Auburn) posted an identical four RBIs in a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with a pair of runs scored.

Peninsula struck first in the opening frame on a two-run homer from McNamara to give the visitors an early 2-0 advantage and never trailed for the remainder of the contest. The Pilots added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run shot from Davis to extend the lead out to 4-0.

Morehead City posted its first run in the bottom half of the sixth inning when Freddie Beamon (USC Aiken) scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit down to 4-1. Peninsula soon broke the game open with four insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to make it an 8-1 Pilots advantage, including Davis’ second two-run dinger of the night.

In the bottom frame, Podkul scored on another passed ball to trim the margin down to 8-2. However, the Marlins were held without a hit for the remainder of the contest to secure the six-run victory for the Pilots.

Peninsula starting right-hander Collin Liberatore (Pittsburgh) got the win, improving to 4-0. Marlins starting lefty Ryan Flores (Lander) took the loss, falling to 0-2. The Marlins return to Big Rock Stadium Sunday night for a doubleheader against the Edenton Steamers starting at 6:00 p.m. before the regular season finale Monday evening versus Peninsula. First pitch is slated for 7:05 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:

Jackson Kaplan

Phone:

919-208-3636