Updated August 04 2017
Forest City made their first trip to Florence, South Carolina of the season to take on the RedWolves (23-27, 9-14) on Thursday night.
Forest City (33-18, 14-10) took control early and scored in six of the nine innings en route to a 9-3 victory over Florence, clinching the number one seed in the west division for the playoffs.
The Owls took an early lead, scoring in the 1st inning as Florence starting pitcher Thomas Shroder (UT-Arlington) walked in a run to put Forest City on top 1-0.
The RedWolves came back in the bottom half of the inning and scored one run of their own on a solo homerun (9) by Zach Jacobs (FMU).
The homerun was hit off Forest City starter Charlie Ruegger (Stevens Institute). Ruegger tossed five innings on the mound, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three batters.
In the 3rd, Forest City put up three runs to take a 4-1 lead. It began with a two-run homerun by Carson Jones (Lander), his sixth of the year.
Later in the inning, Tyler Miller (Anderson) brought in the next run on an RBI single that scored Joel McDaniel (Appalachian State).
Florence responded by scoring one run in the 3rd and 4th to tie the game at 3-3.
Forest City took the lead for good in the 5th on an RBI single by Seth Hoagland (Iona) making it 4-3. Hoagland went 3-6 with three RBI’s and a run scored.
In the 6th, Michael Davis (Western Carolina) took over on the hill for the Owls. Davis threw three shutout innings, allowing only one hit while striking out three RedWolves batters.
Forest City cushioned their lead in the 7th, bringing in two more runs on an RBI single by AJ Wright (UMBC) and an RBI groundout by Hoagland.
The Owls added insurance runs in the 8th and 9th as well to ultimately secure their victory.
In the 8th, Bradley Davis (Appalachian State) hit an RBI sacrifice fly. Davis went 1-2 on the night with an RBI and a walk.
In the 9th, Forest City added their final insurance run on an RBI single by Hoagland that brought in Hunter Parker (East Tennessee State).
In the bottom of the 9th, Owls head coach Matt Reed went back to the bullpen, brining in left-hander Justin Whitley (Montevallo) to slam the door.
Whitley allowed one hit, but struck out two batters, ending the game quickly and securing a Forest City victory.
The win clinches the number one overall seed in the west division for Forest City for the 2017 Pettit Cup Playoffs.
The Owls will still look to clinch number one overall in the Coastal Plain League with four games remaining.
Forest City returns to action Friday as they host a doubleheader against Lexington County. Game one of the two seven inning contests starts at 6:00 p.m. You can listen to all the action on the Forest City Owls Radio Network.
To find out more about 2017 Owls playoff tickets 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