(HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C.) Friday marked the fifth time that the Salamanders have fallen in extra innings as the Wilson Tobs won at Ting Stadium by a 4-3 score. The Salamanders are now 0-5 in extra inning contests.

Entering the tenth inning tied at 2, the Manders allowed two runs in the top half of the inning, largely aided by the CPL’s new International Tiebreaker rule. In the bottom of the tenth trailing 4-2, the Manders had the bases loaded with two outs, with the tying run at second base and Clemente Inclan (UNC) at the plate. Inclan lined a single to right field, driving in Earl Semper (UNC) as the Manders’ third run and Head Coach Avery Booker was left no choice but to send home Peyton Isaacson (St. Leo), who was thrown out at home by Wilson right fielder Carson Freeman to end the game.

Friday’s game was not a particularly offensive one for either team for the first nine innings. The Manders had only four hits in the first nine innings, scoring runs in the third and eighth innings. The Manders got on the board in the bottom of the third when Angel Zarate (UNC) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Earl Semper. In the bottom of the eighth, Trey McDyre (Liberty) came up with the game-tying hit, a double down the right field line that scored Peyton Isaacson to even the score at 2.

On the mound, the Manders had another solid night all around. Caden O’Brien (UNC) started the game and went five innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, striking out two. Following O’Brien, Robbie Hoyt (Lander), Coleman Williams (Duke), and Christian Bourne (James Madison) combined to toss 3.2 scoreless innings. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Evan Moores (Wright State) was brought on with the bases loaded to face Tobs third baseman Colby Warren, and got Warren to ground out to short to end the inning. Allowing both runs in the top of the tenth (both ununearned), Moores was tagged with the loss to fall to 0-2 on the season.Friday’s game was a tale of missed opportunities for both sides, as 18 baserunners were left on (10 for the Salamanders and 8 for the Tobs).

The win moved Wilson to 20-17 on the season and 10-3 in the second half, and the loss dropped the Salamanders to 14-26 on the year and 6-8 in second half play.

The Salamanders travel to Fayetteville to take on the Swampdogs on Saturday night before returning home to host Morehead City for a 5:40 first pitch.

Friday’s Box Score: https://www.coastalplain.com/sports/bsb/2017-18/boxscores/20180720_nfkx.xml #ManderMania