MOREHEAD CITY, NC – “Fish got hot tonight.”

That was Marlin head coach Jesse Lancaster’s message to his team on Wednesday in Edenton, when the Marlins scored 7 runs in just 3 innings in an exhibition game that got rained out mid-game.

The Marlins had only scored 9 runs in their 3 consecutive losses, but ripped off 5 runs in the 3rd inning at home and never looked back, beating East Division rival Wilson 7-5 on Friday night at The Rock in front of 1200 fans.

“Very happy with the offensive performance tonight,” Lancaster said. “It’s good to have two home run innings like we did, but I was most happy with our team offense tonight. We took what they gave us, and good things happen when you do that.”

In his Marlin debut, Phillip Glasser (Youngstown State) made an immediate impact. The shortstop picked up the first two RBIs of the game for the Marlins, first on a sacrifice fly in the 1st inning to drive in Joe Mason (Mount Olive), and then on an RBI single in the 3rd inning to bring Mason in once again.

That was just the beginning in the 3rd inning for the Marlins.

Following up the Glasser RBI single, Jack Harris (Newberry) continued his scorching hot start with a sac fly of his own to extend the lead to 3-1. Then, with Glasser on second base, Zack Miller (Catawba) launched his first home run of the summer to the power alley in right center field. Trackman data had the home run traveling 418 feet and 97 MPH off the bat. Then, Sean Johnson (Belmont Abbey), followed that up with a no-doubter home run to left field that traveled 409 feet. The 5 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning marked the Marlins’ largest offensive output in one inning this season.

Marlin pitching was good as well, with Jack Myers (Butler) getting the win. Myers pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 runs (one earned), 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. He was able to work out of a couple jams when the Tobs had men in scoring position.

Yesterday’s scheduled starter Ty Bothwell (Indiana) pitched in relief of Myers, and he was able to go 3 and 2/3 innings, allowing 3 earned runs in the 9th inning off some unfortunate luck and a balk call. Ryder Yakel (Harding) got the final out of the game with the go-ahead run for the Tobs at the plate.

“Jack Myers was good tonight,” Lancaster said. “And frankly, so was Ty Bothwell. Just couldn’t quite finish the job. Jack gave us a solid 5 innings tonight and was able to situationally pitch really well.”

The Marlins added their 7th run in the 4th inning when Joe Mason walked, stole both second and third base, and came home when Justin Johnson (Lafayette) got thrown out stealing second. This was Johnson’s first CPL game back from a concussion he suffered back on May 30 at home. He was 2-3 with a walk in his return to the lineup.

The Marlins head back to Virginia tomorrow to take on the first-place Peninsula Pilots. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, VA.