Salamanders slide past HiToms 7-4
from Daniel Frey with the HPT HiToms
Holly Springs, N.C. – The High Point-Thomasville HiToms (22-14) outhit Holly Springs (16-19) but three homers push the Salamanders to a 7-4 victory.
A steady attack early paced Holly Springs on an RBI sacrifice fly out by Dillon Stewart plating the first run of the ballgame. Jake Washer cranked a home run of the solo variety in the bottom of the second.
The HiToms got on the board thanks to Wyatt Cross absolutely crushing a homer to right center field in the top of the third homer trimming the score to 2-1.
Austin Reich (2-1) earned his first start of the season for the HiToms and the Salamanders manufactured another run in the bottom of the third on a run scoring sac fly from Danny Sheehan.
Bryce Harman led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot of his own. Drew Butler followed with an RBI knock up the middle.
After four innings, Reich was pulled in favor of Mike Warren and Brandon Riley greeted him with a 2-run homer as the Salamander lead grew out to 7-1 after five innings.
In the top of the sixth is when the HiToms broke out. David Fry keeps bringing in runs with RBI number 20 on the season and Brad Jarreau a few batters later drove in two more on a single up the gut. The HiToms cut the Salamander lead in half to make it 7-4 after six innings and the score would stay that way.
Even though the HiToms outhit Holly Springs 9-8, the three Salamander homers were too much to overcome as Chad Sykes picked up his fifth save of the summer to close the game. Jeff Gottesman (2-2) did just enough in a starting role to notch the win.
The HiToms head to Holly Springs tomorrow, July 17 with a first pitch set for 5:40 p.m. against the Salamanders.
After an off day, the HiToms are back in action at Finch Field on Tuesday, July 19 at 7 p.m. against the Forest City Owls.