Forest City edges RedWolves

FOREST CITY, N.C. — For the first time this season, the Florence RedWolves went up against the Forest City Owls, the top-ranked summer team according to Perfect Game Crosschecker.
For seven innings, the two squads matched each other hit for hit and run for run.
But a two-out, RBI double by the Owls’ Brian Burton in the eighth inning gave Forest City a 4-3 win on Saturday in Coastal Plain League action.
Neither RedWolves starter Stephen McCray nor Owls starter Conner Thompson factored in the decision. McCray struck out seven and allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Both squads managed just four hits apiece.
“It was a very well-pitched game on both sides of the ball,” Florence coach Wes Davis said. “Our guys showed a lot of effort out there. We just came up a run short.”
Sam DiMatteo tripled to leadoff the game and scored on an RBI groundout by Tyler Burnett to put the RedWolves up 1-0.
Forest City answered back with two runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Konstantine Diamaduros and an RBI groundout from Grant Buckner.
The RedWolves (22-16, 7-3) tied the score in the sixth inning. Burnett doubled to right-center and scored on a two-out RBI single to left field by Barrett Kleinknecht.
Florence took a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning on a solo homer to right field by Myckie Lugbauer that hit the scoreboard.
Kyle Deese took the loss for Florence after giving up the eighth inning run.
The Owls’ Kyle Jones picked up the win in relief, tossing a scoreless eighth inning. Robbie Andrews worked the ninth the save.