Updated July 20 2017
The Fayetteville SwampDogs (26-16) exploded for 8 runs in the 6th inning to top the Holly Springs Salamanders (18-23) by a score of 11-9.
The SwampDogs entered the third inning down 3-0, before Jayson Newman (Cal State Northridge) cut into the SwampDogs’ deficit with his 4th home run in two weeks, a two-run shot over the right-center field wall. Justin Hawkins followed Newman’s blast with one of his own, his team leading 7th long ball of the season pulling the SwampDogs even at 3 heading into the 4th inning.
Joey Gonzalez (Stetson) would battle back from a three-run 2nd inning by the Salamanders to toss 6 strong frames while holding the ‘Manders scoreless in his final four innings of work.
Gonzalez (2-0) would ultimately earn the victory after a 7-hit, 8-run inning from the SwampDog bats put Fayetteville ahead 11-3 in the 6th.
Austin Edgette (Bloomsburg) would start the scoring flurry with a one-out base hit to left field that scored Jonathan Allen (San Francisco) to put the SwampDogs ahead 4-3. Jameel Edney would follow up with a hard hit ball that was misplayed by Holly Springs’ third baseman Josh Hollander (Kent State), scoring Jason Paredes (Hagerstown) increasing the Fayetteville lead to two runs. The SwampDogs would tack on 6-more in the inning with RBIs credited to Matt Morrow (Wright State), Andrew Henrickson (East Carolina), and Trent Franson (TCU) all bringing Dogs home to provide some important insurance runs.
The Salamanders mounted a 5-run 9th inning, but Brett Brooks (LSU-Alexandria) was able to hang on and preserve the final 2-run lead.
Ryan Ross (East Carolina) would take the loss to fall to (0-3), while Gonzalez (2-0) remains undefeated in his 4 starts this season.
The SwampDogs return to the Swamp on Friday, July 21 for an exhibition game against Methodist University Alumni for a game to Bring Memories Home Safe in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Foundation. The gates will open at 6 with first pitch at 7:05. For all your SwampDogs news and updates please visit GoSwampDogs.com and follow us on Twitter @GoSwampDogs. The SwampDogs season is presented by Fayetteville Kia.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 21st season in 2017, the CPL features 15 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had over 1,400 alumni drafted and 98 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 Twitter @CPLBaseball.
Leo Blavin
Phone:(910)-426-5900