(HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C.) Wednesday night brought the offensive spark the Salamanders had been looking for, and Holly Springs topped the Edenton Steamers 7-1 at Ting Stadium to snap their four game losing streak.
Carter Williams (NCCU) opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning, hitting a three-run shot over the wall in right field off of Edenton starting pitcher Casey Queener. Two innings later, The Manders took Queener deep again as Patrick Wheeler (Pitt CC) launched a no-doubter to right, a solo shot to stretch the lead to 4-0.
After Edenton stratched a run across in the top of the sixth, the Manders went back to work in the bottom of the seventh as Daulton Martin (Tusculum) led the inning off with a triple to right center. Then with two outs in the frame, Martin scampered home on a pitch that squirted through the legs of Edenton catcher TJ Wegmann, making it a 5-1 game. In the eighth, Carter Williams was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and on the very next pitch Cam Locklear (Liberty) drove a two-run homer over the wall just to the right of the scoreboard in left to extend the lead to 7-1, which would eventually be the final score.
The Salamander pitching staff was once again dominant from start to finish. Mitchell Holcomb (Penn) got the start for Holly Springs and tossed five scoreless innings, striking out six without walking a batter. After a bit of a shaky start finding the strike zone, Christian Bourne (James Madison) settled in nicely to toss two innings, allowing one run in the process. Robertson Hoyt (Lander) then came on and got the final six outs, allowing two hits and striking out two.
The win was Holly Springs’ second of the season and second against Edenton in as many tries. The Manders are now 2-4 on the season and will travel to Wilmington on Thursday to take on the Wilmington Sharks. On Friday the Manders will take on the Morehead City Marlins on the road before returning home to face the Fayetteville Swampdogs Saturday for a 6:00 first pitch. Edenton dropped to 1-4 with Wednesday’s loss.