by James Stanley, Wilson Tobs Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. – The Tri-City Chili Peppers (6-21, 2-8) blew a three-run lead in the 8th inning on Wednesday night at Shepherd Stadium when the Wilson Tobs (14-14, 4-4) heated up the bats late in the game to win 7-5.

Tri-City started the night by taking a 2-0 lead off Wilson starting pitcher Peter Schaefer (Johns Hopkins) in the bottom of the 3rd. With two outs, Ben McLain IV (Texas State) fouled away seven pitches to deliver a two-RBI single into centerfield on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.

In the 4th inning, the Chili Peppers plated another two-out run on an RBI single by Logan Jarvis (Belmont) to widen their lead to 3-0.

The Tobs took away the shutout from Tri-City starting pitcher Maddison Furman (VCU) in the top of the 5th when Griffin Everitt (Nebraska) blasted his second homerun of the season to right field to drive in two runs for Wilson to trail 3-2.

Jarvis and Cade Swisher (Virginia Tech) hit back-to-back solo homeruns off Tobs reliever Justin Guidos (East Stroudsburg) to extend Tri-City’s lead to 5-2 in the 7th.

Trailing for most of the night, the Tobs mounted a five-run comeback on six hits in the 8th to take the lead, 7-5. With one out, Brainy Rojas (East Stroudsburg) doubled down the left field line for Wilson’s first hit and advanced to third base on a single by James Arakawa (Pacific). The third hit of the frame belonged to Scaranda who plated Rojas on an RBI single to shorten Tri-City’s lead to 5-3. Riley Jepson (UT-Tyler) followed with another RBI base hit to get the Tobs within one run of tying, 5-4. Braedon Blackford (Purdue-Ft. Wayne) gave the Tobs their first lead of the night, 6-5, by doubling in two runs beyond a diving Wilson Galvan (South Carolina) in left field. Dusty Baker (Mount Olive) added an insurance run for the Tobs when he traded places with Blackford at second base on an RBI double for the final score of the night.

In the 8th inning, Nolan DeVos (Davidson) recorded a hold pitching 1.0 inning on a pair of strikeouts.

Kolton Scherbenske (UNC-Charlotte) slammed the door in the 9th to record the save on one strikeout and secure the 7-5 win for the Tobs.

Guidos pitched 3.1 innings on three strikeouts while allowing two runs on two hits en route to receiving the win.

Evan Chenier (VCU) took the loss allowing four runs on five hits in 2.2 relief innings pitched.

Schaefer pitched 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits and four walks in a no-decision start.

In his second start, Furman allowed two runs on three hits in 5.0 innings pitched.

The Tobs return to Historic Fleming Stadium on Thursday, July 14 to take on the CPL East Division 1st Place Morehead City Marlins at 7:10 p.m. ET. Come out to the ballpark for Thirsty Thursday with select $1 drafts as well as drink specials all night long. Fans can enjoy pregame music by Triplewide during this week’s Carolina Eagle Budweiser Band Series. Current and former service members can receive free admission to Thursday night’s game as the Tobs pay tribute to our Nation’s heroes on Military & Local Heroes Appreciation Night presented by the U.S. Army, Wilson Community College, Medlin Buick GMC Mazda, First Media Radio, EmergeOrtho and Truist Bank. Gates open at 5, so arrive early to watch the Wilson Police and Fire Departments take the field in the 2021 Guns & Hoses Charity Softball game at 5:30. Can’t make it to Thursday night’s Tobs-Marlins game? Watch it on FloBaseball.TV or for free locally on Greenlight Channels 2 or 900-HD.

When the Tobs hit the road, follow them on Mixlr for free by clicking here or watch on FloBaseball.TV.

The Wilson Tobs enter their 25th season as a founding member of the Coastal Plain League. The upcoming season for the Tobs will see community outreach, increased participation in helping the less fortunate, a Pettit Cup Championship team, and more exciting entertainment than ever before. We would like to dedicate each successful season to the Wilson Community, Coastal Plain League Organization, Host Families, Corporate Partners, and the Dedicated Fans.

The Wilson Tobs have played host to over 100 alumni taken in the draft and have produced a dozen players who have gone on to play in the MLB, including Cy Young MVP winner Justin Verlander. For more information on the Wilson Tobs, visit our website www.WilsonTobs.com.