On a day when the bats weren't going particularly well, the Falcons in support of a strong pitching performance from Ryan Mattes, came up with enough key defensive plays late to preserve a tight 3-2 win over the host Sundevils and extend their winning streak to 9 games.
Cox's Ryan Mattes and Salem's Centeno both went the distance. Salem jumped out to an early 2-0 lead behind an unearned run in the 2nd and a solo HR to RF from Brion. Cox got on the board in the 4th with a leadoff inside the park HR by SS, Chris Taylor
to deep CF. The Falcons then took a 3-2 lead in the sixth. Chase Kyriacou led off the inning with a groundball that was a little to hot to handle, Chris Taylor bunted him to 2nd, and Kyle Profilet brought the tying run home with a triple to right center. Drew Wilkinson plated the go ahead run with a bunt single.
It looked like the Sundevils were going to answer in the 6th when Brion got them going again with a hit to LF. Chance Valentine made what turned out to be a key play though by making a sliding stop of the ball and holding the runner to a single. Next batter hits a hard groundball, but right at the SS and the Falcons turned a 6-4-3 to end the threat. Salem refused to go down easily though. After shutting down the Falcons in the 7th, they got the leadoff man on again in their half (single by Cory Mann I believe) and the next batter promptly advances him to 2b with a sac bunt. Next batter lays down a nice drag bunt, but catcher, Austin Erb makes a great play on the ball to get the runner by a half step. Now, with a runner on 3rd and two outs, Grassano slaps a hard ground ball down the 3b line, but Matt Ittner makes a gamesaving diving stop of the ball, pops up and fires a throw to first that is just a bit high. 1b, Zach Bach makes a leaping grab, tags the runner on the way down, and puts the finishing touch on a very exciting game.
From Hamptonroads.com
Cox 3, Salem 2
Cox 000 102 0—3 7 3
Salem 011 000 0—2 7 3
W—Mattes (5-2). L—Centeno (1-2). HR—S, Brion; C, Taylor.
Drew Wilkinson’s infield single scored Kyle Profilet to put the Falcons (9-7, 8-4) up for good. Profilet tripled in Chase Kyriacou tying run to level the score.
