HOLLY SPRINGS, NC - The Holly Springs Salamanders returned to Ting Stadium for a contest for the first time since Summer of 2019.  The Salamanders would line-up against their new affiliate team, the South Wake Shakes.

On a beautiful North Carolina Saturday night, the bats would strike hot in the 2nd and 3rd innings highlighted by first baseman Darius Noble’s little-league home run that would push two runs across, extending the lead to 4-0. 

UNC Tarheel, Kyle Mott, lasted 4.1 innings striking out five South Wake batters. Mott was pulled after Shakes pitcher Patrick Trease, a Holly Springs native, got the visitors on the board with a solo shot over the picnic pavilion in right field.  

Elvin Rosa, who became a fan-favorite in game one, drove in two more runs and he would finish the night on a game-high 4:5 at the plate as the DH.  

South Wake however, would not go away without a fight.  Three unearned runs were plated while Wiley Hartley was on the mound for Holly Springs, bringing the score to 7-5 in favor of the home team.  

In the bottom of the eighth inning Canada native, Simon Menier, showed the 1,116 fans in attendance what strength above the border looks like.  Menier with two outs bolted a ball out of Ting Stadium faster than it left the pitcher's hand for a three-run homer, bringing the score 10-5.  

The Salamanders would hold on to the five run lead and win their first game of the season (1-0).  The Salamanders and Shakes will meet again tomorrow at 5:40 p.m.  Fans can catch the action on flobaseball.tv.