Pilots Rally Falls Short

Updated June 12 2017
HAMPTON, VA.

The Peninsula Pilots overcame a five-run deficit but fell late to the visiting Wilson Tobs 11-10 at War Memorial Stadium on Monday evening.

Trailing by five runs in the sixth inning, the Pilots (9-3) used a big sixth inning to climb back into the game behind Drew Delsignore’s (Mercyhurst) monster grand slam. Three consecutive walks kicked off the inning for the Pilots. After a sacrifice fly by Drake McNamara (Southern Indiana) scored a run, the fourth walk of the inning loaded the bases for Delsignore. The junior took a 1-0 pitch over the scoreboard in left field for the first grand slam of the season to tie the game up at nine apiece.

With the momentum in favor of the Pilots, the team had a couple chances in the final couple innings to push across the go-ahead run but it was Wilson who took advantage of an error in the ninth inning to take the lead. A hit by pitch and a bunt single by Christian Ballard (Georgia Southern) started the rally for the Tabs. After a nice defensive play to get the second out, the runners moved into scoring position and the Pilots brought in Tad Ratliff (Lenoir-Rhyne) to get out of the jam. Perry Hunt (NC A&T) hit a chopper to first base that was knocked down by Spencer Horwitz (Radford) but the throw to Ratliff, who was covering the bag, was a little offline and allowed both runners to score.

Peninsula would not go away easily as they had the tying run on with no outs but was unable to push across the tying run. Jonathan Embry (Liberty) led off the inning with a double off the left-field wall. After a hit by pitch and a sacrifice bunt to put two runners in scoring position, McNamara hit a sacrifice fly to score Embry but the tying run was stranded at third for the final out of the game.

Peninsula jumped ahead first with a run in the first inning. Kieton Rivers (Coastal Carolina) reached on a one-out walk. After an out, McNamara kept the inning alive with a single to put runners on the corners. McNamara beat the throw at second on a stolen base attempt and Rivers beat the throw back for the first run of the game.

Scott Dubrule (Jacksonville) and Zac Ching (Virginia Tech) put the Pilots ahead by three with back-to-back solo shots in the second inning.

Wilson (3-9) roared back with four runs in the third inning with Tanner Johnson delivering the big boom of the inning, a three-run shot over the field wall, to take the lead.

Peninsula responded with a RBI triple by Dubrule which scored Drew Delsignore (Mercyhurst), who walked, to tie the game at four apiece.

Wilson retook the lead with three runs in the fourth inning. A Tob reached on a throwing error with one out which set up back-to-back RBI triples by Zach Smith (Charlotte) and Brady Lloyd (East Carolina). A RBI groundout by Kyle Butler (Radford) scored Lloyd to put the Tobs ahead by three.

The Tobs tacked on two more in the fifth on a two-run home run by Shane Shepard (NC State).

Peninsula tried to mount a late rally but fell short to drop their first game against the Tobs this season.

Jakob Ryan (George Mason) took the win for the Tobs after pitching 2/3 innings and striking out one. Kelvin McAllister (NC A&T) notched his third save of the season. Ryan Fox (VCU) took the loss for the Pilots to even his record at 1-1.

The Pilots and Tobs will face off once again, this time back in Wilson. After a day off Wednesday, the Pilots will host Holly Springs for College Night and Thirsty Thursday!

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:

Taylor Sherrill

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757-245-2222