MOREHEAD CITY, NC – The Marlins put it away early on Friday night against the RedWolves. Seven runs were scored by Morehead City in the bottom of the first inning, en route to a 10-5 win over Florence.
Tonight was also a huge night for the Marlins off the field, as they, along with Beer Army, Baker’s Kitchen and Ben DeFonce presented quadriplegic veteran Sergeant Andrew Anthony with an all-terrain track chair that will greatly increase his independence and mobility. Anthony was injured in the Iraq War, and is recovering from his tenth surgery.
“Good win for us after a big one last night,” Marlins head coach Jesse Lancaster said. “Justin Kleinsorge gave us a great start, but we’d like to pitch it a little better at the end of the game to really bury a team. Offensively, we were pretty good but not great, but all the wins are equally important at this point in the season, and we’re taking care of our business. It’s the dog days right now, so any time you can win it’s a positive thing.”
Sean Johnson (Belmont Abbey) started the party, and started it with a bang.
On the first pitch in the bottom of the first, Johnson hit a solo home run, which was his fifth on the year. Jack Harris (Newberry) scored next off of an error. Jack Casbarro (Mount Olive) kept it going, grabbing an RBI fielder’s choice. Robbie O’Neal (Pitt C.C.) was the next man to the plate, and contributed with an RBI single. Jeff Wehler (Pitt) put together the last three runs of the inning. The second baseman notched a 2-run RBI double, but made it all the way around on an error at second base.
Morehead City grabbed its eighth run in the third, as Joe Mason (Mount Olive) scored on a strikeout from O’Neal. The Marlins grabbed another run in the sixth, thanks to Johnson advancing during a pickle Harris was tagged out in.
The last inning and a half included six runs—five scored by the RedWolves.
In the top of the eighth, Will Hardee’s 2-run RBI double gave Florence its first runs. Lukas Polanco followed Hardee with a sacrifice fly to make a 9-3 Marlin lead. Morehead City grabbed its final out in the bottom half with an RBI double by Johnson. Brody Wortham hit a 2-run RBI single in the top of the ninth, but it was too little and too late for the RedWolves.
Kleinsorge (Regis) made his eighth start of the year, and did it in dominant fashion. The righty struck out five hitters, giving up three hits, two walks and no runs in seven innings pitched, evening his record at 1-1.
At the plate, Johnson and Harris pummeled the RedWolves at the top of the order. Johnson went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, earning the CPL’s daily “Line of the Night.” Harris also went 3 for 4.
Wehler had a strong night in the 9-hole. The Pitt Panther went 2 for 2 with two RBIs.
The win makes it four in a row for the Marlins. Morehead City looks to make it five in a row at Wilmington on Saturday night. A win for the Marlins would give them their first ever win of the newly annual Golden Chumbucket Series. First pitch from Legion Stadium is set for 7:05. Listen live on the Morehead City Marlins Radio Network.