FLORENCE — When the Florence RedWolves decide to break out of a slump, they apparently do it in a big way.
Having struggled to push runs across all week, the RedWolves took out their frustration on Fayetteville pitching with nine hits in an 11-5 Coastal Plain League win at Legion Field on Sunday.
The 11 runs are a season high while the nine hits match a season high. More importantly, the RedWolves left just seven runners on base after stranding 36 in three straight losses.
The win keeps the RedWolves (6-3) tied with Wilson (7-4) atop the CPL South standings.
“Our guys had a better approach at the plate from the start tonight,” said Florence coach Wes Davis. “We put pressure on Fayetteville’s defense and were able to capitalize.”
A four-run Florence outburst in the second inning that started with two outs was especially impressive.
Brad Raj singled, Richard Pirkle was hit by a pitch and Herman Petzold walked to load the bases. Cory Briggs followed with a double to right that scored Raj and Pirkle to tie things 2-2.
Taylor Lewis then put the ball in play and reached on a throwing error that allowed Petzold and Briggs to score for a 4-2 lead.
“Our two-out hitting today was a lot better,” Davis said. “We struck out (just twice) all night. The guys definitely looked like they had a better idea of what was going on.”
After Fayetteville tied it 4-4 with two runs in the third, the RedWolves got three innings of no-hit relief from Kyle Deese and scored seven runs over the fifth and sixth innings to put the game away.
Deese (1-0) relieved starter Jake Jutsukos at the start of the fourth and struck out three in his three innings. The only runner Deese allowed reached on an error with two outs in the sixth.
“Kyle is a guy who didn’t get to throw a whole lot (at Clemson) this year, so we’re trying to get his pitch count up and get him some longer looks,” Davis said. “He came in and really pounded the strike zone. He hung up three zeros that allowed the offense to get going again after the game was tied.”
RBI singles from Barrett Kleinknecht and Raj keyed a five-run fifth that pushed the RedWolves to a 9-4 lead.
A run-scoring double from Raj and a sacrifice fly from Pirkle in the sixth made it 9-4.
Raj finished 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Briggs was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Kleinknecht was 2-for-5 and Stephen McCray was 2-for-4.
McCray, the starting pitcher in a loss to Wilmington on Saturday night, played first base for Preston Shuey, who was rested after homering twice on Saturday.
“Preston is a little dinged up. He needed a day off,” Davis said. “McCray gave us a good left-handed stick in the lineup and made three or four really good plays at first that really helped us out.
“McCray is a two-way guy who has a chance to make a real big impact for us.”
Florence will host a doubleheader with the Columbia Blowfish today at 6 p.m. Left-hander Nick Gillung (2-0, 2.45 ERA) will start the first game with John Taylor (0-1, 0.77) taking the mound for the nightcap.
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