Lynchburg 4, Winston-Salem 3

The Winston-Salem Dash jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third, when Jason Coats hit his 15th home run of the year, a three run shot that cleared the wall in left centerfield. The lead would be 3-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth, but reliever Sean Hagan struggled entering his third inning of relief. He gave up a single to Eric Garcia to lead off the inning. One out later Justin Bloxom walked and Hagan was replaced by Raul Fernandez. Fernandez struck out Will Skinner and looked like he may get out of the inning, but Kevin Ahrens ended that with a three-run home run of his own, his fifth of the year, that put Lynchburg in front 4-3. Cody Fassold (2-0) got the win in relief, and Alex Wilson recorded his 14th save of the season.

Willmington 8, Frederick 1

The Wilmington Blue Rocks jumped out on top early when Zane Evans hit a three-run home run in the top of the first on their way to an 8-1 win over the Frederick Keys. The home run was Evans fourth of the year. In the top of the seventh, leading 3-1, the Blue Rocks would plate three more, as Raul Mondesi tripled to drive home a run and he was knocked in by the next batter. Zane Evans also had a run scored and an RBI in the inning. In the ninth Mondesi added a two run home run to finish off the scoring. Overall Mondesi was 2-5 with two runs and three RBI. Adrian added his fourth home run in a losing effort. Glenn Sparkman (7-2) pitched very well for Wilmington, going 6.2, allowing five hits, a walk and one earned run, while striking out 10. The win moved Wilmington within 5.5 of the rained out Potomac Nationals.

Myrtle Beach 5, Carolina 1

Five Pelicans pitchers combined to give up just five hits and a run, while striking out eight in the 5-1 Myrtle Beach victory. Josh McElwee (2-0) got the win for Myrtle Beach, pitching an inning of perfect relief. Nick Williams two out double drove home two in the first inning to put the Pelicans on top. The teams swapped runs with Myrtle Beach scoring one in the top of the third, and Carolina getting a single tally in the bottom of the sixth, but in the top of the eighth the Pelicans put the nail in the coffin. Royce Bolinger doubled to lead-off the inning, and one out ater scored on a two-run homer by Lewis Brinson, his third of the year. The four-run deficit was too much for the Mudcats to overcome, and they fell 5-1. The Pelicans win was their seventh straight road win and improved their lead over Winston-Salem to 2.5 games.

Potomac and Salem were postponed because of rain.

By Robert Pannier
Senior Baseball Editor
Member of the IBWAA