WILSON, N.C. – Despite a five-run eighth innings and a game-tying two-run home run off the bat of AJ Jones, the Wilson Tobs (14-10) concluded the first half of play in the Coastal Plain League (CPL) with a 9-7 loss to the Holly Springs Salamanders (11-13) on Saturday evening at Historic Fleming Stadium.

The loss means Wilson finishes the First Half second in the CPL East, just two games behind the first-place Morehead City Marlins. It also moves the Tobs to 3-2 this season against the Salamanders in the 2023 campaign, with both squads now 1-1 against each other at Fleming Stadium.

A three-run home run off the bat of Garrett Pennington got the scoring started for Holly Springs, and when it finally landed beyond the left center field wall, Holly Springs led 3-0 in the first three frames.

Flash forward to the home half of the eighth, and with Wilson trailing 7-2, a wild pitch that scored Luis Hernandez gave the Tobs some life in their final few cracks. And a few moments later, a Brian Fry two-run single and the Jones game-tying home run knotted the game at seven apiece.

It wouldn’t last long, though. Two errors in the top of the ninth allowed two runs to cross for the Salamanders, allowing Holly Springs to earn the two-run victory for win No. 11 in 2023.

Next up Wilson, a well-deserved two days off before heading to Hampton, Va. to take on the Peninsula Pilots on July 4 for a 7:00 p.m. ET first pitch. The game can be found on FloSports.