HOLLY SPRINGS, NC- The Salamanders defeated the Peninsula Pilots 2-1 in a pitcher’s duel on Wednesday night at Ting Stadium.  The two international players for the Salamanders lead the way on both sides of the ball.  Missouri’s Jacob Kush sat down 9 of the first 10 Pilots he faced.  North Greenville’s Marek Chlup provided all the offense for the Salamanders blasting 2 homeruns over the scoreboard to guide Holly Springs to the Victory.

Both starting pitchers settled in nicely to a game with storm clouds looming over the stadium.  Peninsula’s Luke Zimmerman struck out 7 batters and only walked 1.  Holly Springs’ Jacob Kush struck out 4 and did not issue any free passes around the diamond.

The Scoring started in the bottom half of the fourth when Chlup took a hanging breaking ball out of the park and over the scoreboard.  Rudy Maxwell in his Salamander debut would also double in that frame but be stranded by the Pilot defense.

Peninsula attempted to tie the game on a unique situation.  With a runner on third with 1 away, Ethan Hunter struck out and attempted to run to first. Mason Minzey made the throw over and JP Sponseller fired a bullet back home to the pitcher Kush, and tagged Zach Morris trying to catch the defense sleeping.    1-0 after 5.

Hunter would rope a leadoff single in the eighth inning and score on a Justin Starke sacrifice fly to knot the game at 1-1.

In the Salamander half of the inning Chlup, with two outs and behind in the count, would send his second hit of the game into the parking lot putting the Sals’ back up 2-1.

Hunter Stevens entered in a save situation for Holly Springs and with the basses loaded with 1 out, Josh Hood, Brice Martinez, and Ryan Wilson were able to put the game to rest with a 6-4-3 double play.

Peninsula suffered their first loss of the season (6-1) and Holly Springs improved to (6-2).  Winning pitcher for the Salamanders is Michael Walsh (1-0) and Tripp Breen is tagged with the loss (0-1).  Stevens picks up his 2^nd save of the year (0-0-2), the first Salamander to do so.

The Salamanders hit the road on Thursday as they look to get revenge on the Wilson Tobs at Historic Fleming Stadium.  First pitch is schedule for 7:00pm you can always catch the Salamanders on Flobaseball.tv.