Game 1:
The Pilots took game one of the double-header, erasing a 6-1 deficit and beating Tri-City 8-7. They only had seven hits on the ball game, but three were home runs. Hunter Cole (Randolph Macon), Mason Dunaway (James Madison), and Ethan Ott (UNC Pembroke) all homered in the fifth inning or later, fueling the Pilots to victory.
Henry Garcia (Howard College) scored in the top of the first, by walking, stealing second, and coming home on a throwing error, putting the Pilots up 1-0.
Tri-City got this run back and more in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs on two RBI doubles.
The Chili Peppers extended their lead in the sixth inning, scoring four runs. A bases-loaded walk, sacrifice fly, and two RBI singles put these runs in.
Hunter Cole (Randolph Macon) completely changed the game in the sixth inning with a grand slam over the center field wall, tying the game at 6-6! The Pilots weren’t done there, as two batters later, Mason Dunaway (James Madison) homered to take the lead.
The homers kept coming for the Pilots, as Ethan Ott (UNC Pembroke) led off the eighth inning with a solo blast to extend the lead to 8-6. That homer turned out to be essential, as the Chili Peppers put a run across in the seventh inning, and the Pilots hung on 8-7.
Game 2:
The Pilots couldn’t complete the two-game sweep, losing game two 3-1. The bats never got going for the Pilots, only recording one run on six hits. Catcher Bryce Stober (Lenoir Rhyne) had the only multi-hit game, going 2-3.
Nate Varnier (William Peace) kept the game close in the late innings, pitching the last two innings, giving up no runs on one hit, and striking out three.
A sacrifice fly for Tri-City scored the game’s first run in the third inning, and a single shortly after put them up 2-0.
A fielder’s choice scored the third run for the Chili Peppers in the fourth inning.
The Pilots put their first run on the board in the sixth inning, scoring on a wild pitch.
The Pilots will have to win out to keep their postseason hopes alive, starting with tonight’s home game against Tri-City