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Wilson remains unable to solve Fayetteville

June 28, 2008

Fayetteville, NC — Starting pitching often determines wins and losses at any level of baseball. Tonight was no different. For the fifth time in six match ups this season, the Fayetteville SwampDogs defeated the Wilson Tobs by a 6-2 final count. Travis Wright was the hero for Fayetteville, tossing seven stellar innings, allowing just an earned run and not issuing a base on balls. Alex Meyer made his debut for the Tobs, and the left hander from Georgetown was not hit hard, but took the loss after struggling with his control. Meyer allowed four earned on five walks through five and two-thirds innings of work.

The Tobs drop to four games below .500 at 11-15 overall, while Fayetteville surpasses the .500 mark, putting their record at 14-13. Each team will enjoy a day off Sunday, and play their final game of the first half of the season on Monday.

Fayetteville got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as Meyer walked the first two hitters he faced, Conner Crumbliss and Dustin Johnson. Derrick Lowery then laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, and Crumbliss raced home from third on Nick Fleece’s RBI ground out to short stop. The SwampDogs got the second run of the game in the bottom of the third, on almost the exact same at bats. Once again, Meyer walked Crumbliss and Johnson, leading off the inning. With two outs, Crumbliss scored on Carter Jurica’s single to center field.

In between the individual runs put up by Fayetteville, the Tobs scored their only two of the night in the second inning. Chris Henderson led off the top of the frame with a ground ball that was bobbled by Dustin Johnson at second base, and he was charged with an error. Cody Hawn then delivered a booming double off of Wright, scoring Henderson from first. Jared Richmond sacrificed himself on a ground ball to first base, moving Hawn to third. He then would score on a wild pitch uncorked by Wright over the head of his catcher Ryan Lowe.

The contest remained tied at two until the bottom of the sixth inning, when walks again came back to haunt Meyer and the Tobs. With one out, Kevin Hussey drew the fifth walk of the night against Meyer. After Hussey moved to second oh John Selby’s ground out to first, Ryan Lowe continued his clutch hitting with a two out RBI single to center field, giving Fayetteville the lead and the eventual winning run.

After Lowe’s base hit, the flood gates opened. Meyer was removed in favor of Paul Novicki, who pitched well in his only start of the season at Fayetteville just a week earlier. He was unable to record an out as he yielded an RBI single to Conner Crumbliss, and another two out hit to Dustin Johnson. Right hander Taylor Miller came in to try and stop the bleeding, and his efforts were no better. He was greeted rudely by Derrick Lowery, who cracked a two run triple to right center field, scoring Crumbliss and Johnson, before Nick Fleece was retired to finally conclude the four run inning.

Nick Chmielewski and Tony Davis each pitched single scoreless innings in relief of Wright, keeping the Tobs off the board. In the mini two game series with the SwampDogs, Wilson scored just three runs. Against Fayetteville pitching, just one of the three runs were earned, and the Tobs mustered a combined ten hits in the two contests with the SwampDogs. After Wilmington’s second straight upset victory over Florence, Fayetteville and the Sharks are tied for second in the CPL South Division. The Tobs are 1.5 game behind both clubs in the standings.

The next Tobs’ game will take place on Monday when Wilson plays host to the Wilmington Sharks. Monday’s contest will begin at 7:05 PM on “Bark in the Park” Night, sponsored by The Dog House, when fans are encouraged to bring dogs to the ball park, permitting the dogs are on leashes. Gates open at 6:05 PM at Historic Fleming Stadium on the final day of the CPL First Half. For those who cannot attend the game, radio coverage begins on the CPL WebPass and WUBN 106.9 FM at 6:45 PM with Eric Kopp.

The Wilson Tobs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its twelfth season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

Contact:
Eric Kopp
252-291-8627