Owls Knock Off HiToms in Wild Affair

FOREST CITY, N.C. – Bradley Morton paced the High Point-Thomasville HiToms with four RBIs Saturday, but it wasn’t enough as they fell to the Forest City Owls 8-7.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second, HiToms right-fielder Jared Allen (jr., Middle Tennessee State) smacked a game-tying solo homer to center field, his team-leading fifth of the season. Steven Pallares responded for Forest City with a RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to give the Owls the lead back 2-1.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Forest City (17-11) tacked on four runs with a hit-by-pitch, sacrifice squeeze bunt, a RBI single and a wild pitch. The HiToms (12-15) answered in the top of the seventh inning when Bradley Morton (jr., Appalachian State) lined a two-run triple to center field and later scored on a wild pitch to cut the HiToms’ deficit to two, 6-4.

After two High Point-Thomasville errors in the bottom of the seventh put runners on first and third, a passed ball and a wild pitch scored them both, extending the Owls’ lead 8-4. The HiToms refused to go quietly though as Morton struck again with two outs and the bases loaded by slapping a two-run single to center. An Owls throwing error brought the HiToms within one, 8-7.

The HiToms tried to rally one last time in the top of the ninth. Des Roberts (rs jr., UNC-Charlotte) led off the frame with a walk and stole second base. But Forest City’s Pallares, who moved from right field to the pitcher’s mound, struck out the side and sealed it for the Owls.

The HiToms have Sunday off before returning home to Finch Field to face the Fayetteville SwampDogs Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 P.M.