Ninth-inning rally ends RedWolves’ season

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. - With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and trailing 4-3, Donnie Corsner hit a solo home run to tie the game and Outer Banks brought home a run with the bases loaded to complete the come-from-behind 5-4 victory against the Florence RedWolves in a first-round Petit Cup playoff game, which didn’t end until early Friday morning.

The game was delayed because of rain and didn’t begin until after 10:30 p.m.

With the win, the Daredevils advance to the second round of the Petitt Cup playoffs to play a best two-of-three series with Peninsula. The Pilots advanced with a 9-0 victory against Edenton.

Florence ends its season at 30-26.

Playing on an injured knee, and hitless until the ninth inning, Corsner crushed a fastball from Brad Raj to deep center field to bring the Daredevils back to life. Raj proceeded to walk three consecutive batters to load the bases, before Florence called upon All-Star John Taylor, a former Wilson standout.

Taylor induced a ground ball from Tyler Stubblefield with the infield drawn in, but an errant throw from Hermann Petzold allowed Phil Clark to score and give the Outer Banks the victory.

The Daredevils rallied from two run deficits twice in the contest. The RedWolves jumped out to 2-0 lead in the first inning as first baseman Myckie Lugbauer blasted a first inning two run home run off of Daredevils’ starter Chris Boggs.

In the bottom of the second inning the Daredevils tied the game 2-2 when Clark hit a two-out bases clearing triple, scoring Justin Schumer and Derek Spencer.

The game remained tied 2-2 until the fifth inning until Florence’s Sam DiMatteo doubled to Drew Hayes and give the RedWolves a 3-2 lead.

Florence added another run in the seventh as Hayes scored on a wild pitch by Daredevils reliever Adam Kolarek.

Trailing 4-2 in the seventh inning, Chandler Snell cut the lead to 4-3 with a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Clark.

The Daredevils bullpen was incredible in the game, with Kolarek and closer John Cornely, who got the win, striking out a nine of the last 10 batters.

Florence had incredible starting effort from Stephen McCray. He tossed eight impressive innings, yielding two runs on five hits while striking out 10. 

Tyler Burnett and DiMatteo led Florence with two hits each.