Steamers plate eight in the 8th, come back to beat Clovers
Edenton, NC – Down two runs in the bottom of the 8th, it appeared to the fans that all hope was lost.
But not the boys wearing teal and black.
The Edenton Steamers defeated the Clayton Clovers, 12-6, in come from behind fashion Saturday night at Historic Hicks field. The Clams rode a phenomenal outing out of the pen by Reuben Costin, a late offensive outburst, and clutch hitting to bring home the W.
8th inning rally
In the bottom of the 8th inning centerfielder Drifton Padgett started the rally with an infield single. The West Virginia State Yellow Jackets right fielder Nate Paulsen and catcher Tyler Overaitis followed with a walk and a single to right field to load up the bases with the score, 6-4 Clovers.
From there, the Steamers offensive onslaught began.
Third baseman Ty Garza was hit by newly entered Clovers arm Witt Branham to force in a run Luke Myers worked a 10 pitch walk against Branham to push 2 runs across, evening the score at 6-6.
Myers spoke postgame about his approach at the plate, “I just widened my stride, choked up on the bat, trying to fight everything off if I got a good pitch to hit. I was just trying to get it in play, the infield was in so I was trying to get it in the air or hard on the ground,” Myers said.
After a fielders choice at home left fielder Ryan Kay hit a sharp ground-ball to Clayton first baseman Jackson Dunlap. Dunlap knocked it down but threw it wide of Clovers catcher Peter Maldonado allowing two more Clams to score to make the game, 8-6 Steamers.
The Clams first baseman Gabe Kirck ripped a single to center field that plated two more Clams extending the lead up to 10-6. After a double by extra hitter Macon Winslow that pushed pinch runner Davis Halstead around to third designated hitter Tate Abbott, the 10th man to bat in the inning, blooped one into right field that scored Winslow and Halstead to give the Steamers a 12-6 lead.
Abbott notched his third hit and his third and fourth RBIs of the ballgame. The left handed hitting first baseman now has a .455 AVG (4th), .500 OBP, 5 hits (2nd), and 6 RBIs (1st) through the first three games.
The eight run outburst is the largest run total in one inning for the Steamers, topping five runs in the second inning vs Outer Banks. Edenton has now scored 28 runs in the first three games in 2023. Last season the Steamers scored 30 in the first five games.
Steamers bullpen continued success
Right handed starter Cody Ives failed to get through the fourth inning and struggled with walks against the Clovers.
Ives finished with 3.1 innings pitched, allowed seven hits, five runs ( all earned runs), and five walks.
Since Chandler Padgett gave one run in 5 innings against Outer Banks Steamers starters (Zane Loveday, Ives) have thrown 6.2 innings with 10 walks, 11 hits, and seven runs allowed.
On the flip side the Clams pen has been dominant.
Left handed arm Reuben Costin relieved Ives with the bases loaded in the 4th and struck out two to end the threat and held the Clovers lead at 5-1.
That was the biggest threat for Clayton the rest of the game. Costin went the next 4.2 innings surrendering one hit, one unearned run (fielding error by Kirck), two walks, and six strikeouts earning the win.
Right handed pitcher Ben Bausas came in to secure the victory in the 9th.
So far in 11.1 innings pitched Clams bullpen arms have allowed three hits, one unearned run, and 13 strikeouts.
The Steamers will have a day off before facing off against another non PCL team, the High Point Air Force, to round out the three game home stand Monday at Historic Hicks Field. Gates open at 6 pm with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm.
If you cannot make it to the game you can tune into the Steamers YouTube page, your home for every Steamers home game and a select few road games.