Pilots Move to 5-0 with 6-2 Win

Updated June 05 2017
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C.

The Peninsula Pilots continued their strong start to the 2017 season with a 6-2 victory over the Morehead City Marlins on Monday night at Big Rock Stadium.

Jonathan Embry (Liberty) led the 13-hit attack with a four-hit night while three other Pilots had multi-hit games. Drew Delsignore (Mercyhurst) and Jack Owens (Virginia Tech) added home runs in the win.

The Pilots continued their trend of scoring first with a run in the first inning. Embry led off the game with a double before moving to third on a single by Owens. The Pilots scored the first run of the game, marking the fifth straight game they plated the first run, with a fielder’s choice by Chris Lehane (Jacksonville).

Morehead City had a chance to cash in a run in the bottom half of the inning but Collin Liberatore (Pittsburgh) struck out the final two Marlins to strand two runners in scoring position.

Peninsula added a run in the second inning with a RBI single by Embry. Sam Griggs (Southern Indiana) led off the inning with a single before Grant Maiorana (Virginia Tech) reached on a fielder’s choice. After a Tyler Nelin (George Mason) single, Embry brought home Maiorana to put the Pilots ahead 2-0.

Morehead City cut the lead to one with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Daulton Weeks (USC-Aiken) led off the inning with a double. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Weeks scored on a groundout by Colton Pogue (Pittsburg State).

In the fifth inning, Owens led off the inning with a solo shot to push the lead to 3-1.

Delsignore gave the Pilots a four-run cushion with a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Matt Schneider led off the inning with a single before Delsignore’s second round-tripper of the season gave the team a 5-1 lead. Later in the inning, Embry’s fourth hit of the night brought home Logan Augustine (Lincoln Memorial)

Weeks singled home Derek Olenchuk (Newberry), who hit a leadoff double, to cut the lead to four in the eighth inning.

Liberatore pitched four solid innings and gave up one run on six hits while striking out five. Braun Miller (Malone) picked up the win with two innings of scoreless ball with two strikeouts. Matt Mullenbach (Lincoln Memorial) notched his first save of the season by pitching the final three innings and gave up one run while striking out three.

Quinton Driggers (Newberry) took the loss for the Marlins after giving up two runs in 3 2/3 innings of work.

The Pilots return home for three straight games including a doubleheader on Tuesday night against Edenton. The two teams will play two seven inning games beginning at 6:05 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. Peninsula will then host Wilson on Wednesday night for Pirate Night! Wear your best pirate costume and you could win movie tickets.

For more information regarding the season, please visit www.peninsulapilots.com. For up to the minute details on Pilots Baseball be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PeninsulaPilots. Also, be sure to download the Peninsula Pilots mobile app available for both iPhone and Android users! Use the #PilotsNation to spread the word about the Pilots!

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:

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