Morehead City, N.C. – In a thrilling late-season battle, the Greenville Yard Gnomes edged out the Morehead City Marlins, 7-6, in extra innings Monday night at Big Rock Stadium. Jesse Ponce and Danny Ramirez paced the Gnomes’ offense with two RBI apiece, as Greenville earned a statement win down the stretch.
The Yard Gnomes (14-22) struck early in the third inning. Ponce drove in Landry Stamps with a single, and Ramirez followed with a two-RBI knock to score Ponce and Michael Kalinich, giving Greenville a 3-0 lead.
The Marlins (20-18) got on the board in the bottom half of the frame when Jayden Novak scored on a wild pitch.
Joe Siervo extended the Gnomes’ lead to 4-1 in the fourth with a solo home run to left.
Morehead City clawed back in the sixth, capitalizing on two more wild pitches to plate Novak and Logan Lowe, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
The Marlins tied the game in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Connor Larson, sending it into extras.
In the top of the 10th, the Gnomes exploded for three runs. Chance Hall scored on a passed ball, Cam Rickabaugh crossed home on a sacrifice fly to right, and Luke Miller came around on a putout, giving Greenville a 7-4 lead.
Ramirez took the mound in the bottom of the 10th and held off a late Marlins push, allowing two runs but sealing the win with help from his defense.
Maddox Jones earned the win, tossing two innings and allowing one earned run while striking out two. Pete Honse took the loss for Morehead City, giving up three runs (one earned) in one inning of relief.
Up Next: The Yard Gnomes hit the road again to face the Peninsula Pilots in Hampton, VA. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.