’Wolves fall to first-place SwampDogs

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Fayetteville scored six runs in the first two innings en route to an 8-5 win over Florence on Saturday in a battle for the top spot in the Coastal Plain League’s South Division.

The SwampDogs chased Florence starter David Haselden (1-2) after two innings. Haselden allowed all six earned runs and two homers.

Florence got things started in the first inning when Cory Briggs singled up the middle to drive in two as the RedWolves took a 2-0 lead.

But Fayetteville responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first and added two more in the second to take a 6-2 lead.

Brad Raj brought Florence back within 6-5 in the third inning with a two-out, three-run double.

But the RedWolves could not pull any closer as Fayetteville added two more runs in the later innings.

Florence (12-10) falls one game behind Fayetteville and will travel to Wilson on Monday.