HAMPTON, VA.
The Holly Springs Salamanders were outlasted 3-1 by the Peninsula Pilots on Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium.
Holly Springs starting pitcher Chris Rodriguez (Redshirt-Junior, Wright State), making only his second start of the season, sprinkled one run on three hits over four innings in a solid outing. Jake Lewis (Sophomore, UNCG) pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Michael Hope (Sophomore, Shippensburg) and Matt Cronin (Freshman, Arkansas) also made relief appearances.
Sam Griggs (Junior, Southern Indiana) doubled to lead off the third inning for the Pilots, scoring after a sacrifice bunt moved him to third base and a sacrifice fly drove him home. The Salamanders tied the score in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Jacob Jaye (Junior, VMI). There was no more scoring until the bottom of the seventh, when Pilot CF Connor Stephens (Sophomore, Jacksonville) grounded into an RBI double-play with the bases loaded. In the next at-bat, Nathan Eaton (Sophomore, VMI) laced a single into left field that drove home the final run of the evening.
The Salamanders are off on Sunday before returning to Ting Stadium at the North Main Athletic Complex on Monday. First pitch against the Wilson Tobs is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 19th season in 2015, the CPL features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. The CPL has had over 1,200 alumni drafted and 79 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.
Contact:
Michael Lisson
Phone:
(919) 249-7322