Updated July 30 2017
Forest City beat High Point-Thomasville (26-21, 13-7) for the second time in as many days, winning 11-4 on Saturday night at Finch Field in Thomasville.
The win put the Owls (30-17, 11-9) four games up in first place in the overall west division standings with eight games to play.
Forest City opened up the scoring in the 2nd inning against High Point starter Clay Young (Catawba). Young had the league low ERA and had surrendered the fewest hits and runs of any pitcher this year.
The Owls scored two runs on a two-RBI double by Joel McDaniel (Appalachian State) that put Forest City on top 2-0.
In the bottom half of the frame, the HiToms got one run back on an RBI double by E.P. Reese (Liberty).
On the mound, Forest City looked to Connor Dailey (Lenoir-Rhyne) to get his first start of the 2017 campaign.
Dailey pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs and striking out three batters along the way.
In the 5th, High Point tied the game on an error that brought in Jordan Howard (Lee) to score.
Following the 6th, Young exited the game for the HiToms because of a high pitch count. The Owls responded by scoring in each of the final three innings to get the win.
The game stayed tied at 2-2 until Forest City retook the lead in the 7th, scoring two runs. First, an RBI double by McDaniel put the Owls back on top. McDaniel went 3-4 on the night with two doubles and three RBI’s.
The lead doubled moments later on an RBI double by Collin Dupree (Montevallo).
The 4-2 lead for the Owls was short-lived as the HiToms got both runs back immediately in the bottom half of the frame.
First, an RBI double by Randy Norris (Winston-Salem) made it 4-3. Three batters later, an RBI double by Kip Brandenburg (Spartanburg Methodist) tied the game back up at 4-4.
After Brandenburg’s double, Dailey exited the game and was replaced by Landon Whitson (Lenoir-Rhyne) on the hill. Whitson maneuvered his way out of the inning, stranding two runners in scoring position.
The Owls got the lead back again in the 8th for good, all on one swing of the bat. It was a three-run homerun (1) by Alex Conaway (Lander) to put Forest City back on top 7-4.
After Whitson stuck out the side in the 8th, the Owls added four more runs in the 9th, to ultimately secure a victory.
Alex Reynolds (Lenoir-Rhyne) got it started with a two-RBI double that made it 9-4. Reynolds went 2-4 on the night with two doubles, two RBI’s and two runs scored.
Three batters later, Conaway got it done again with a two-RBI single that drove in Chris Chatfield (South Florida) and Reynolds, giving Forest City an insurmountable 11-4 lead.
Whitson sent the HiToms down in order in the 9th once again, securing a win not only for himself, but also for Forest City, giving the Owls their 30th win of the season.
“They had us locked up early, but Alex Conaway had a great night tonight,” Owls head coach Matt Reed said. “He had a sacrifice bunt, that homerun and two more RBI’s, along with the great defense we played tonight, it will oftentimes get you a win.”
Forest City has Sunday off before returning to action Monday as they host the Asheboro Copperheads at 7:05 p.m. You can listen to all the action 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
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