(HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C.) Fayetteville starting pitcher Blake Shriever tossed what could very well be the best start by any Coastal Plain League pitcher this summer on Tuesday night, as the Fayetteville Swampdogs beat the Salamanders 6-0 behind Shriever’s complete game shutout.

The Manders managed only three hits on Tuesday against Shriever, all of them being singles. Not a hard thrower, Shriever kept Holly Springs hitters off balance all night, especially mixing in his changeup in fastball counts to avoid barrels and induce weak contact. Shriever struck out ten Salamanders on Tuesday, seven of which were swinging at off-speed offerings.

Joey Antonopoulos (St. Leo) started on the mound for the Salamanders and had a nice outing, going toe to toe with Shriever for teh game’s first five innings. The right-hander threw five innings of one run ball on only three hits, striking out six and walking two. Antonopoulos suffered the tough luck loss for Holly Springs on Tuesday, falling to 1-2 on the season. Five different pitchers combined to finish the game, throwing Tuesday’s final four innings.

Tuesday’s loss was the Manders’ third straight and the first time they had been shut out this season. Holly Springs fell to 7-16 with the defeat and Fayetteville moved to 10-11 with the win.

The Manders have tomorrow off before returning to action Thursday against the first place Morehead City Marlins, who on Monday night clinched the CPL East First Half title and secure their sport in the 2018 Pettit Cup Playoffs. Thursday’s first pitch from Ting Stadium is scheduled for 7:00pm.

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