Updated July 20 2017
Behind the efforts of Logan Mattix and Jacob Southern, the Savannah Bananas hit three home runs to lift themselves to a 6-3 victory over the Florence RedWolves Thursday night at Grayson Stadium. Jim Wagner supplied the offense for Florence lashing Banana arms for three extra base hits on the evening.
Florence (20-19, 6-6) struck in the top of the first inning scoring three runs on four hits off of Savannah’s (20- 18, 7-4) starter, Bryan Cruse (6-0). Leadoff batter Cornell Nixon and behind him Grayson Cottingham, who made his RedWolves debut, both had base hits through the left side. Nixon moved to third on Cottingham’s single. With one out, Clay Casey drove a ball to right-center that was caught for a sacrifice fly, scoring Nixon easily to make it a 1-0 game. With two outs, Jim Wagner then stepped in and blasted a standup triple off of the double wall in centerfield to make it a 2-0 contest. Riley King then stood in and provided a base hit up the middle giving the RedWolves a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Savannah, however, picked up a run in the bottom half of the first on a solo home run from Logan Mattix, putting the score at 3-1.
With a runner on first base after a leadoff single form Matt Pita, Jacob Southern tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run to left field.
In the bottom of the fourth Mattix went deep again with his second solo home run of the game to put the Bananas on top 4-3.
Savannah continued to pile on the runs, scoring twice more in the bottom portion of the sixth inning, eventually chasing out the RedWolves starter, Kolton Ingram (2-4). Ingram tossed 5.1 innings, giving up 8 hits, 6 runs, all earned, with two walks and five strikeouts.
Southern walked to lead off and John Cassala singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. Anthony Brocato laid down a sacrifice bunt, but an error loaded the bases with no outs. LJ Talley lifted a sacrifice fly in centerfield to put Savannah up 5-3, as both Southern and Cassala tagged up on the play. Brandon Purcell then singled up the middle driving in Cassala to give Savannah the 6-3 advantage.
Wagner blistered Savannah pitching as he had two triples, a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Reliever James Williams came out of the bullpen for the RedWolves with one out in the sixth and finished out the game on the bump for Florence. The right-hander out of the University of Georgia held the Bananas to one hit in the final 2.2 innings, while striking out two.
Mat Clark threw the last frame for Savannah picking up a strikeout for his third save of the summer.
The RedWolves will return home on Friday, July 21st for Outdoor Night. Come celebrate all activities you can do outside. Join us for the Pepsi Game of the Week, Lil D’s Dugout American Grill BBQ Friday and Fill the Kayak Friday presented by River Rats Kayaking. Visit www.florenceredwolves.com for more information and tickets.
- RedWolves -
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:
Audie Wise
Phone:(843)-629-0700