Updated July 28 2017
Forest City inched closer to potentially clinching the number one overall seed in the west division on Friday night with a 4-1 win over High Point-Thomasville.
The HiToms (26-20, 13-6) had lost four of five games coming into Friday, slowing down from their red-hot start in the second half of the season.
The Owls (29-17, 10-9) took an early lead in the 2nd when Chase Barbary (Western Carolina) drove in a pair of runs with two outs to make it 2-0.
On the mound, Forest City looked to Tyler Lawson (Long Beach State) to get the start. Lawson was phenomenal on the hill, tossing six innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out nine batters.
The lone run Lawson surrendered came in the 4th, as Evan Edwards (NC State) hit a solo homerun (12) to left on a 3-0 count, cutting the HiTom deficit in half. Edwards went 3-4 on the night.
Forest City got that run back two innings later in the 6th, as Barbary brought in Hunter Parker (East Tennessee State) to score after an error by the High Point third basemen.
In the 7th, Lawson exited the game and was replaced by Kaleb McCurry (Mars Hill). McCurry was fresh off his relief outing on Sunday against High Point in which he tossed six shutout innings while only allowing two hits.
McCurry was great once again on Friday, tossing three scoreless frames, surrendering three hits and striking out three.
In the 7th, the Owls scored their final run to take a commanding three run lead. Alex Reynolds (Lenoir-Rhyne) brought in Carson Jones (Lander) to score on an infield single, making it 4-1. Reynolds went 3-4 on the night with an RBI and run scored.
The HiToms went down quietly in the 9th as McCurry secured a huge win for the Owls, as Forest City knocked off High Point 4-1.
The win puts the Owls up three games in the west overall standings with nine games to play. The win also secures a season series victory over the HiToms with still one game against High Point remaining.
Forest City returns to action tomorrow to take on the HiToms on the road at Finch Field at 6:00 p.m. You can listen to all the action live on the Forest City Owls Radio Network.
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