HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C.) – In what was very well the Salamanders’ best performance of the season, there was little doubt left at Ting Stadium on Tuesday night as Holly Springs blew out the Wilmington Sharks 10-1 to snap their three game losing streak. 

The Manders matched a season high for hits in a game with 16 on Tuesday, and their 10 runs scored were second best for a single game. The Manders put at least one across in every inning except the fifth and the eighth, and put multiple runs across in the third inning (2), fourth inning (2), and seventh inning (3). 

The Manders got on the board in the bottom of the first when Peyton Isaacson (St. Leo) knocked an RBI single into left center, scoring Cam Locklear. The knock was the first of five on the night for Isaacson, who went a perfect 5-5 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. 

In the second, a CJ White (Gardner Webb) double to right center brought Ryan Orr (San Diego State) around to score to make it a 2-0 game. 

The Manders added two more in the third, when the inning was set up with bases loaded and nobody out off of two singles and a hit batsmen. Trey McDyre (Liberty) grounded out to third base to bring across JT Jarrett (NC State) for the Manders’ third run and and the next batter Patrick Wheeler (Pitt CC) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Peyton Isaacson around to make it a 4-0 game. 

The next inning, after CJ White and Jeremy Whitehead (ECU) reached base to start the inning via a single and a walk, two batters later JT Jarrett knocked them both in with an RBI double down the left field line, extending the lead to 6-0. Jarrett finished Tuesday 3-5 with a double, 3 RBI and a run scored. 

After going scoreless in the fifth inning, the Manders went right back to work in the sixth, when back to back two-out doubles from Peyton Isaacson and Chase Allen (Limestone) to make it a 7-1 advantage. 

Holly Springs added its final three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Run number eight came across when Jeremy Whitehead grounded into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded, scoring Patrick Wheeler. Two batters later, JT Jarrett singled to right field which scored Ryan Orr to make it a 9-1 ballgame. The final Salamanders run of the night came when Peyton Isaacson lined his fifth hit and second double of the night to right center, bringing around Jeremy Whitehead to make the score 10-1.

Tuesday’s pitching performances of the Salamdaners can’t go unnoticed. Right hander Mitch Gremling (Wright State) made his first start for Holly Springs and exceeded expectations. Gremling, who didn’t make a start all spring for Wright State went out and tossed five shutout innings, scattering three hits. Gremling struck out five and walked one, earning his first win of the summer in his first decision. 

The bullpen was equally impressive, with the remaining four innings tossed by three relievers. Making his 2018 Salamanders debut, Phil Simpson (Campbell) threw the top of the sixth, allowing one run on two hits while striking out the side. Jake Isbell (Pitt CC) tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth, striking out two Sharks. Finally Nick Swiney (NC State) came on for the ninth, striking out the side in succession to close out the ballgame. 

The win improved the Salamanders’ record to 5-12 on the season, snapping their previous three game losing streak. For Wilmington, the loss continued their freefall in the standings, as the Sharks dropped their eighth straight ballgame to fall to 5-11 on the year. 

The Manders travel to Fayettevile to take on the Swampdogs on Wednesday night before returning home to face the first place Morehead City Marlins on Thursday night. 

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