by James Stanley, Wilson Tobs Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting
WILSON, N.C. – Walking off the Tri-City Chili Peppers (5-10, 4-9 CPL) 4-3 in game two of a twin bill on Wednesday night, the Wilson Tobs (7-7, 3-7 CPL) got back to a .500 overall record on the season.
Game One
Matt Kavanaugh (Nova Southeastern) started for the Tobs in game one and pitched a quality start on 4.0 shutout innings. He exited the game after the 4th inning and finished his outing on a season high five strikeouts. Kavanaugh garnered Coastal Plain League “Lines of the Night” honors after his start – the first time a Tob has tabbed the honor in 2021.
The Tobs drew first blood against the Chili Peppers taking a 1-0 lead off Tri-City starting pitcher Ian Evans (Elon) in the bottom of the 1st. With one out, Dusty Baker (Mount Olive) reached first base on an error by Tri-City shortstop Casey Harford (UT-Martin). In his first at-bat as a Tob, catcher Griffin Everett (Nebraska) doubled to put Baker at third base and Jared Carr (Shepherd) brought Baker home on an RBI single to put the Tobs in front by one run.
Carr extended Wilson’s lead to two runs in the 3rd inning by driving in Logan Eickhoff (Eastern Illinois) on his second RBI base hit of the game.
Tri-City catcher Willie Havens (Elon) tied the game 2-2 in the 5th inning by hitting a two-run homerun off Tobs relief pitcher Nate Fiala (East Stroudsburg). The Chili Peppers continued to pour it on in the frame to take a 4-2 lead by plating two runs on a sacrifice fly and a base hit.
Harford added an insurance run in the 7th inning to put Tri-City up 5-2 when he drove in Logan Jarvis (Belmont) on a base hit.
Eli Parks (Liberty) pitched the bottom of the 7th in relief for the Chili Peppers and secured the win in game one 5-2 on a two-strikeout save.
Evans earned the win by pitching 5.0 innings. He allowed two runs, both unearned, on six hits while striking out four batters.
Fiala took the game one loss after being able to record only two outs in the 5th inning. He finished the night allowing four runs, two unearned, on two hits and four walks in 0.2 innings pitched.
Game Two
Cameron Prayer (Houston) started game two allowed one run on four hits in a 4.0 inning no-decision outing. He finished the night with four strikeouts in his first start as a Tob.
Carr put the Tobs on the board first in game two by scoring on a wild pitch throw by Tri-City starting pitcher Jonathan Draheim (University of Mary) in the 2nd inning.
Taking a 1-0 lead into the 3rd, James Arakawa (Pacific) led off the frame with his first CPL hit on a double to right field. Carr then extended Wilson’s lead to two runs by driving in Arakawa on a base hit.
Chili Peppers catcher Cole Christman (John A. Logan College) cut into the Tobs lead 2-1 with an RBI double in the 4th inning.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, Zach Hogueisson (Tennessee Wesleyan) put the Tobs back up by two runs to lead 3-1 on his first homerun of the season – a solo shot to right field.
But Tri-City would not go down easily.
Tobs reliever Sebastian Martinez (Anderson) struck out the first two batters to start out the 7th inning, but ran into trouble after issuing two walks and a base hit to load the bases for Harford. Harford then singled in two runs to tie the game 3-3 and blow the save for Martinez.
Logan Ross (Troy) entered the game in relief for the Chili Peppers in the bottom of the 7th, but the Tobs jumped on him in the first four batters to load the bases. With one out, Hogueisson sent the Historic Fleming Stadium crowd home happy with a walk-off infield base hit that scored Tommy Gibson (Shepherd) to give the Tobs the win 4-3.
Martinez finished the night allowing two runs on three hits and two walks on way to getting the win.
Ross took the loss for Tri-City in game two. He allowed one run on two hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch while being able to record only one out on the night.
Draheim finished his second starting allowing three runs on five hits and a walk in 5.0 innings pitched.
Carr went 4-6 between both games with three RBIs.
The Tobs finish their homestand on Thursday with a doubleheader against the Holly Springs Salamanders starting at 6:00 p.m. ET. Both games will run seven innings with game two starting 30 minutes after the final out of game one. Join the Tobs for Thirsty Thursday with $1 select draft beer and drink specials. Gates open at 5:30. Fans who cannot make it to the doubleheaders can stream all four games on FloBaseball.TV or watch locally on Greenlight Channels 2 or 900-HD.
All Tobs road games can be streamed on FloBaseball.TV or listened to on the Tobs free road radio broadcast 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.