Wilson, N.C. – The Greenville Yard Gnomes (16-24) and Wilson Tobs (23-16) split a doubleheader Thursday night at Fleming Stadium. Greenville took game one 15-11 in a continuation of a July 10 rainout, while Wilson bounced back with a 7-0 shutout in the nightcap, shortened to seven innings.
Game One: Greenville 15, Wilson 11 (Resumed from July 10)
July 10:
The Yard Gnomes jumped out early as Brody Gardner drove in Joe Siervo with an RBI single in the first.
Wilson quickly responded in the bottom half, with Matthew Williams plating Charlie Bussey and Jack Kail to take a 2-1 lead.
Greenville answered in the second, reclaiming the lead with a three-run frame. Luke Miller scored on a sac fly from Corey Berry, Danny Ramirez followed by scoring on another sac fly, and Michael Kalinich crossed home on Gardner’s second RBI single of the game.
Nick Palmi broke the game open in the fourth with a grand slam, extending Greenville’s lead to 8-2 before the game was suspended due to inclement weather.
July 24:
When play resumed, Wilson chipped away with runs in three consecutive innings. Jakhari Howard scored on a putout in the fifth, Chase Waddell came home on a passed ball in the sixth, and Howard scored again in the seventh to cut the lead to 10-5.
Greenville had already added two runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer from Ramirez.
The Yard Gnomes exploded for five more runs in the ninth, highlighted by a Jacob Green triple that scored Ramirez and Josh Mason, and a Cam Rickabaugh double that plated Jesse Ponce and Landry Stamps. Green capped the rally by scoring to make it 15-5.
Wilson staged a late comeback with six runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Ramirez entered and recorded the final out to secure the win.
Maddox Jones earned the win, tossing five innings and allowing nine runs (eight earned) with two strikeouts. Nathan Leininger took the loss for Wilson after giving up four earned runs in 1.1 innings.
Game Two: Wilson 7, Greenville 0 (7 Innings)
The Tobs broke a scoreless tie in the fourth when Matthew Williams launched a two-run homer. Christian Michak followed with an RBI single to score Jakhari Howard.
Wilson added four more in the fifth to put the game away. Carter Murphy went deep with a solo shot, Waddell scored on a bases-loaded walk, and Michak drove in two more with a single, finishing with three RBIs.
Pitchers Ethan Atchley and Tyrone Woods each tossed a hitless inning to preserve the shutout.
Nathan Leininger was awarded the win after tossing five scoreless frames allowing just three hits with ten strikeouts. Ben Myers was tagged with the loss after allowing five earned runs on seven hits in just four innings of work.
Up Next: The Yard Gnomes return home to Guy Smith Stadium on Friday night to take on the Peninsula Pilots. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.