By: Evan Rogers

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — In a back-and-forth battle, the Holly Springs Salamanders (20-19) fell to the Savannah Bananas (28-10), 5-3, Sunday night at Ting Stadium.

Both teams were held scoreless in the first inning, with neither squad registering a hit. In the Salamanders’ second offensive frame, Connor Denning (Campbell) scored the evening’s first run after a wild pitch allowed the right fielder to scamper home.

However, the Bananas were quick to answer their early deficit. In the next frame, first baseman Brody Wortham (West Georgia) triple off the left-field wall highlighted an inning in which Savannah tied the game, 1-1.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Bananas looked to take their first lead of the night. With one out, catcher Indiana Stanley’s (Columbia) hooking single earned Savannah its second base runner. Following two wild pitches and an RBI fielder’s choice by Wortham, the Bananas took a two-run lead. 

But in the same inning, Holly Springs plated a run of its own. After the Salamanders notched a lead-off single, first baseman Alberto Osuna (UNC) smashed an RBI double to cut Savannah’s advantage in half. 

Yet, third baseman Beau Brewer’s (Paris JC) solo blast helped the Bananas regain a two-run lead in the sixth inning.

Despite a final push from Holly Springs that featured Osuna’s second RBI of the game, the Salamanders failed to get over the hump and fell to Savannah, 5-3. 

During the sellout game — that featured a record-breaking crowd of over 2200 people -— the Salamanders failed to capitalize on key scoring chances. By the night’s end, Holly Springs stranded five runners on base and recorded five hits.

The Salamanders will return to Ting Stadium to take on the Wilson Tobs. First pitch for Tuesday’s contest is set for 7:00 p.m.