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FLORENCE, S.C. – The Florence RedWolves broke open a tie game with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, defeating the Morehead City Marlins, 7-2, at American Legion Field on Tuesday night.

Morehead City (28-19, 13-6 second half) had tied the game in the top of the inning. But in the home half of the frame Peter Mooney’s double into the gap in right-center scored John Frost to put Florence ahead for good, 3-2. Florence (31-18, 12-10 second half) went on to score four more runs in the inning, capped by Ethan Santora’s three-run homer that put the RedWolv

es up by five.
David de la Chapelle came out of the Florence bullpen and retired the Marlins in order in the top of the seventh to clinch the game. Shortly after the conclusion of the game, persistent rain forced the postponement of game two of Tuesday’s scheduled doubleheader.

The RedWolves scored the game’s first two runs against Morehead City starter Rodney Quintero (L, 1-1). In the second, Ronnie Freeman hooked a Quintero offering around the left-field foul pole for a solo home run that put Florence ahead, 1-0. Herman Petzold doubled home Trey Hernandez in the next inning to double his team’s lead.

Florence starter Colby Holmes (W, 3-3) shut down the Marlins in the early innings. Morehead City broke through in the top of the third when Chris Taylor brought home Joe Sclafani with a single through the right side. That made the score 2-1 until the top of the sixth, when Chad Oberacker’s single to right-center drove in Luke Smierciak and tied the game.

Oberacker and Smierciak each had two hits for the Marlins. Taylor also reached base twice, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk. As a team, Morehead City recorded just six hits – all singles – against Holmes. In his six innings of work, Holmes struck out seven and walked three.

The Marlins head to Fayetteville on Wednesday for a doubleheader against the SwampDogs at J.P. Riddle Stadium. Game one is set to begin at 6:05.

The Morehead City Marlins are the newest member of the Coastal Plain League. The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives 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.