Updated August 03 2017
The Forest City Owls flew down south to Sparrow Stadium and handed the Florence RedWolves their third straight loss in as many days. A depleted pitching staff leaves the home team vulnerable as the Owls take advantage of 12 walks and errant pitches to take away a 9-3 win back to Forest City Thursday night.
Forest City (33-18, 14-10), who has already clinched a spot in the 2017 Coastal Plain League Playoffs, struck in the first inning. With five walks issued in the inning, Joel McDaniel drew the one that led to the first run of the ball game putting the Owls on top 1-0.
Florence (23-27, 9-14) evened things up in the bottom half of the opening inning as Zach Jacobs rocketed his ninth home run of the season, tying the game 1-1. The solo shot was Jacobs’ 33rd run batted in of the season.
The Owls charged back in the top of the third inning scoring three runs off of starter Thomas Shroder (1-1). After Seth Hoagland reached on an error by Jackson Williams, Carson Jones lifted a two-run home run to left taking a 3-1 lead. McDaniel followed with a single to left and was moved to second after Bradley Davis walked. Tyler Miller then singled up the middle to score McDaniel for a 4-1 advantage.
Logan McRae provided another run for the RedWolves after he drove in Jacobs on a single to left field. Jacobs worked his way on base with a two-out double to right-center. McRae’s base hit cut the Owls lead to 4-2.
In the fourth inning Florence got within a run to cut into the Owls lead once more, 4-3. Riley King led the inning off knocking a hard base hit into left. Williams was plunked in the shoulder that put runners on first and second. Nixon did a service by sacrificing himself moving the runners into scoring positon for Grayson Cottingham to send a line drive into left field scoring King from third.
Forest City tacked on five more runs throughout the course of the game to put the cap on the RedWolves’ night offensively, giving the owls a 9-3 win on the road.
Charles Ruger (2-1) picked up the win for Forest City throwing five innings of three-run ball, on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
The Owls bullpen of Michael Davis and Justin Whitley threw the final four frames relenting just a hit each, while striking out five and walked one.
With four games left to play in the regular season, the hope of making the playoffs for the RedWolves is still alive, though they will need some help. Florence will need to win its final four games, while needing the Savannah Bananas to lose their last four as well.
Florence will be back home on Friday, August 4th to take on the Savannah Bananas. It will be fan appreciation night as there will be giveaways galore, specialty jersey auctions, fill the kayak Friday and the biggest firework show the RedWolves will ever have ever had. Visit www.florenceredwolves.com for more information and tickets.
- RedWolves -
Audie Wise
Phone:(843)-629-0700