MOREHEAD CITY, NC–The Marlins hosted the Greenville Yard Gnomes for the final home game, with massive playoff implications, winning it 5-4 to secure the first seed in the East.
The Marlins started the game with a two-run home run from Joey Calabretti in the second and then a run from Diego Diaz, taking the 3-0 lead.
Greenville plated one in the fourth off an error from Tyler DeLuzio, who missed the throw on a pickoff to first.
Morehead City scored one in the sixth, bringing the lead back to three. However, the Yard Gnomes scored one in the seventh off an error.
The Marlins added an insurance run in the eighth off a pair of errors.
Joey Hiller started the game going for two innings, with one hit, one walk, and one strikeout.
DeLuzio and Jaden Greenidge both got two innings on the mound, with Gavin Zoeller, Kole Hopkins, Carson Gipson, and Jake Howard following. Gipson let in two runs in the top of the ninth before the Marlins looked to Jake Howard, who finished the game as the hero, recording the final out with a strikeout looking.
Morehead finishes the season with a final record of 34-14 and the first seed in the East Division.
The Marlins will face the winners of the wild card game on Tuesday on the road, then return home Wednesday for game two. Game three, if necessary, will also be held at Big Rock Stadium on Thursday night.
