by James Stanley, Wilson Tobs Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting
HAMPTON, Va. – The Peninsula Pilots (2-0) downed the Wilson Tobs (3-2, 0-2 CPL) 6-3 at War Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.
Peninsula took a 1-0 lead in the 1st on an RBI single by Mason Dunaway (James Madison) off Tobs starting pitcher Trevor Nicholson (Eastern Illinois).
Riley Jepson (UT-Tyler) tied the game 1-1 in the top of the 2nd when he drove-in Braedon Blackford (Purdue-Ft. Wayne) on a double to the left-centerfield gap.
In the bottom of the 2nd, the Pilots scored three runs on four hits to retake the lead 4-1. Trey Morgan (Virginia Military Institute) drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly that scored Trevon Dabney (James Madison). Ethan Hunter (Southern Indiana) scored the second Pilot run of the frame on a wild pitch and Alden Mathes (Richmond) capped off the scoring with an RBI double.
Hunter extended Peninsula’s lead by two more runs in the 3rd inning when he drove in Zach Lass (Richmond) and Dabney on a two-RBI base-hit and the Tobs trailed 6-1.
The Tobs showed signs of life in the 7th inning after Jepson led off the frame with a single. Later in the inning, Logan Eickhoff (Eastern Illinois) drove-in Jepson to cut into Peninsula’s lead 6-2.
Dylan Scaranda (Barton College) hit a double to lead off the 8th inning for the Tobs and later in the frame scored on an RBI single by Blackford to bring the Tobs within three runs of the Pilots.
Trailing by three runs into the 9th inning, Wilson was set down in-order by Pilots relief pitcher Lliam Grubbs (James Madison) and fell 6-3 to Peninsula.
Jay Cassady (Christopher Newport) started for the Pilots and got the win pitching 6.0 innings and allowing one run, unearned, on four hits. He ended the night striking out five Tobs.
Nicholson took the loss for the Tobs pitching 2.0 innings. He allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks while recording one strikeout.
Jepson finished the night 3-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI for back-to-back three-hit games.
Next up, the Tobs return home to Historic Fleming Stadium on Thursday, June 3 against the Tri-City Chili Peppers at 7:10 p.m. Come out to the ballpark to enjoy $1 select beer on Thirsty Thursday as well as Whirligig and Chamber Night. Chamber members can purchase pre-ordered tickets for $2. Fans can stream the game on FloBaseball.TV or watch locally on Greenlight Channel 2 or 900-HD.
Join the Tobs at Historic Fleming Stadium on Saturday, June 5 for the 2021 Beer and BBQ Festival prior to first pitch at 7:00 p.m. against the Tri-City Chili Peppers. Gates open at 6, so arrive early and come to the beer garden to enjoy samples from craft beer vendors and unlimited barbeque.
Follow the Tobs when they hit the road and listen to their games for free on Mixlr by clicking here.
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.