Tristan Eppard hammered a three-run homer, then stepped on the mound and earned the save tonight as the visiting Panthers squeezed by Riverheads in an action-packed thriller. Although there is technically no such thing as a district title, the Panthers can probably lay claim to it after this win, as I think they lead everyone now by three games or more.
But in the early going, the home team looked primed to pull off the upset and avenge a 9-2 loss in Shenandoah. Andrew Golladay started strong for the Big Red and struck out a trio of Panthers in the top of the first. He then set them down again in the second before Riverheads had its big inning in the home half.
The bottom third of the Gladiator order got things going as a Zach Gray single brought home the first run. The Panthers attempted to nail the runner at the plate, which allowed two more Gladiators to reach second and third. They came home soon thereafter as a two-RBI Braeson Fulton single put RHS ahead 3-0.
Golladay kept Page at bay for one more inning before the visiting bats came to life and touched him for two runs in the top of the fourth. That momentum continued into the top of the fifth, and after Page tied it up, Eppard hit his game winner just over the fence in left-center.
Riverheads did not go quietly as the Gladiators came right back in the bottom half of the frame, closed the gap to within 6-4, and left the tying runs at second and third. A Forrest Shuey ground-rule double that skipped through a hole in the fence in the deep right corner brought home the run and made things interesting. But Page starter Ryan Cave bore down and got the Gladiators out, stranding those all-important runs that might have tied it up.
Eppard pitched shut out ball for the final two innings, as did Austin Craft (6th) and Elijah Dunlap (7th) for the Gladiators. Riverheads has another important game tomorrow night, as Page likely does as well, so the calculators were likely running trying to keep track of those pitches in both dugouts.
Riverheads will be at Wilson tomorrow night for a 6:00 game, hoping to prove that they are NOT the same team the Hornets swatted 10-1 earlier in Greenville.
But in the early going, the home team looked primed to pull off the upset and avenge a 9-2 loss in Shenandoah. Andrew Golladay started strong for the Big Red and struck out a trio of Panthers in the top of the first. He then set them down again in the second before Riverheads had its big inning in the home half.
The bottom third of the Gladiator order got things going as a Zach Gray single brought home the first run. The Panthers attempted to nail the runner at the plate, which allowed two more Gladiators to reach second and third. They came home soon thereafter as a two-RBI Braeson Fulton single put RHS ahead 3-0.
Golladay kept Page at bay for one more inning before the visiting bats came to life and touched him for two runs in the top of the fourth. That momentum continued into the top of the fifth, and after Page tied it up, Eppard hit his game winner just over the fence in left-center.
Riverheads did not go quietly as the Gladiators came right back in the bottom half of the frame, closed the gap to within 6-4, and left the tying runs at second and third. A Forrest Shuey ground-rule double that skipped through a hole in the fence in the deep right corner brought home the run and made things interesting. But Page starter Ryan Cave bore down and got the Gladiators out, stranding those all-important runs that might have tied it up.
Eppard pitched shut out ball for the final two innings, as did Austin Craft (6th) and Elijah Dunlap (7th) for the Gladiators. Riverheads has another important game tomorrow night, as Page likely does as well, so the calculators were likely running trying to keep track of those pitches in both dugouts.
Riverheads will be at Wilson tomorrow night for a 6:00 game, hoping to prove that they are NOT the same team the Hornets swatted 10-1 earlier in Greenville.
