Updated July 24 2017
The Tobs fell 9-6 at Historic Hicks Field to the Edenton Steamers on Monday night, the third straight loss for the Tobs and eighth straight to the Steamers in the season series.
With the loss, the Tobs fell to 4-11 in the CPL seocond half and 13-30 overall on the season. Edenton pulled back to .500 in the second half at 8-8 with the win.
Jeff Thompson (Belmont Abbey) got the start on the mound for the Tobs on Monday. The left-hander was pulled after two innings due pitch count, getting a no-decision for the start. In his 2.0 innings of work, Thompson allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits, striking out three, walking three and hitting a batter.
Cole Hinnant (Francis Marion) gave the Tobs a gritty 5-plus innings of relief of Monday following Thompson’s exit. Hinnant allowed five runs (all earned) on seven hits, striking out one and walking two. Hinnant made three big mistakes, giving up three Steamer home runs. James Battley (Illinois-Springfield) and Billy Wilson (Loyola Marymount) went back-to-back in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run shot and a solo shot, respectively. In the bottom of the seventh, William Robbins (Francis Marion) took his college teammate deep to center, a solo shot. Hinnant would be tagged with the loss for the Tobs, falling back to 0-4 on the season.
Hinnant exited after allowing a leadoff single in the eighth with the score tied at 6. Henry Cartrett (USC Aiken) entered, striking out James Battley but then walking the next two hitters to set up a bases-loaded, one-out jam. Cartrett was then lifted in favor of KJ McAllister (NC A&T).
McAllister struggled with his command, walking three consecutive batters, pushing the consecutive walks streak to five. In the process, three Steamer runs were forced in to make the score 9-6.
Finally, Austin Fisher (Santa Clara) came on in an emergency pitching situation, the infielder’s first appearance on the mound this season. Fisher retired both men he faced, getting the Tobs back to the plate in the top of the ninth.
Kelvin Pilot (Arizona Christian) came on and picked up the save for the Steamers, as the Tobs left the tying run in the on-deck circle to end the game.
Offensively, the Tobs got going early. With two outs in the top of the first, Brady Lloyd (ECU) was the runner on second base when Dawnoven Smith (NC A&T) hit a chopper to third base. Edenton third baseman Tristan Carranza (New Mexico State) made a bad throw to first, throwing the ball down the right field line. The error allowed Lloyd to score, giving the Tobs an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, with Edenton on top 2-1, the Tobs plated another. Andre Nnebe (Santa Clara) took Edenton starter John Arel’s (Maine) fastball over the left-center field wall on the first pitch of the inning, tying the game at 2-2. The home run was Nnebe’s fourth of the year.
The Tobs trailed 5-2 coming into the top of the fifth, and would plate one in the frame. After a Nnebe double set the Tobs up with runners on second and third with one out, an Arel wild pitch allowed Hunter Gore (Liberty) to score on the misfire, making the score 5-3. Arel would however get out of the inning stranding Nnebe at third base.
Trailing 6-3 entering the top of the eighth, the Tobs would plate three big runs to tie the game. Brady Lloyd singled to right to lead of the inning against reliever Andrew McDonald (Virginia Tech).
After a CJ Ballard (Georgia Southern) single to right, Shane Shepard (NC State) came up with runners on first and second with nobody out. Shepard lined a double to the left-center field wall, scoring Lloyd and moving Ballard to third base, making the score 6-4.
Next up, Dawnoven Smith picked up his second RBI of the game with an RBI groundout to second base, scoring Ballard and cutting the deficit to one.
With Shepard now on third with two outs, Carson McCurdy (Mount Olive) bounced a single through the right side, scoring Shepard to tie the game at 6-6. The next batter AJ Hunt dribbled a grounder to third that Tristan Carranza threw away, his third throwing error of the game. McCurdy tried to score from first on the play to take the lead, but was thrown out at home, and the game remained tied 6-6.
After the Steamers plated three in the bottom of the inning and the Tobs went scoreless on the night, the ballgame was over and the Tobs had dropped their third straight.
The Tobs will be back in action tomorrow against the Peninsula Pilots for a 7pm start from Historic Fleming Stadium. Tuesday is the final Tobs All-You-Can-Eat Tuesday of the season, sponsored by Bojangles and Sweetwater Brewing Company.
The Wilson Tobs enter their 21st season as an original member within the Coastal Plain League for the 2017 summer. The upcoming season for the Tobs will see an expanded community outreach effort, increased participation in helping the less fortunate and more exciting entertainment for the Wilson Community. We would like to dedicate each successful season to the Wilson Community, Coastal Plain League Organization, Host Families, Sponsors Partners and the Dedicated Fans throughout the city of Wilson. The Wilson Tobs have played host to over 100 alumni taken in the draft and have produced a dozen players who have gone on to play in the MLB, including Cy Young & MVP winner Justin Verlander. For more information on the Wilson Tobs, visit our website www.wilsontobs.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:- Will Hibbard
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