By: Sammy Johnson

The Pilots lost 8-6 to the Holly Springs Salamanders tonight, falling behind in the season series 2-1. 

The Pilot bats just couldn’t get anything going, only recording five hits on the day. No Pilot recorded a multi-hit game. Aaron Manias (Howard College) led the team in RBIs with two.

Starting pitching was shaky for the Pilots, as Todd Mozoki (JMU) was only able to go two innings of work. Dalton Barham (Norfolk State) was able to pick him up, going four strong innings in relief. Over those innings, he gave up one earned run, two hits, and struck out four. 

The first inning didn’t go well for the Pilots, as the Salamanders put across four runs in the bottom of the first inning. An RBI double started things off, but Holly Springs wasn’t done there, hitting a three-run homer in the next at-bat.

The Pilots got a run back in the top of the second thanks to back-to-back errors that allowed Cole Stanford (Lenoir Rhyne). 

The Salamanders extended their lead in the bottom of the second inning on a bases-clearing double, making the game 7-1.

Four walks in the top of the third inning helped the Pilots creep back into the game. An RBI on a fielder’s choice by Zac Morris (South Carolina) cut the lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the second inning. Cole Stanford and Ethan Ott (UNC Pembroke) each walked later in the inning with the bases loaded to add two more runs, making it 7-4. 

The Salamanders were able to scrape across one more run in the top of the seventh inning, extending their lead to 8-4. 

The Pilots showed some fight in the top of the ninth, as Aaron Manias (Howard College) hit a two-RBI single down the left field line. However, this wasn’t enough, as the Salamanders hung on, winning 8-6.

The Pilots are back in action tomorrow for a home doubleheader against the Tri-City Chili Peppers.