COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. – In meeting number nine between the Peninsula Pilots (15-4) and the Tri-City Chili Peppers (4-14), the two teams go to extras, and Pilots come out as the victors, winning 9-7. 

Tri-City continues to show improvement with each game played and in tonight’s contest they struck first with a pair of runs in the first off of Ben Williamson’s (William and Mary) first long ball of the season. 

After the two-run homers from the Chili Peppers third basemen, the Pilots responded with Trey Morgan (VMI) reaching off an infield single and ultimately scored off a wild pitch. 

With a 2-1 score in the bottom of the third, the power was showcased once more with Casey Harford’s (Univ. of Tennessee – Martin) second homer of the summer. The solo blast stretched it back to a two run lead for the Chili Peppers. 

However, in accordance to Newton’s first law, an object in motion stays in motion. That was the case for the Pilots offense in innings four through six. Peninsula plated two runs in each inning and stormed ahead of Tri-City. 

The hot Pilots offense did not go unanswered as Wilson Galvan (South Carolina) and Hunter Gilliam (Longwood) each drove in a run in the fourth, adding to their already top ten RBI totals across the Coastal Plain League. 

I’m the bottom of the seventh inning, while trailing Peninsula 7-5, the Tri-City offense came through in a big way with two outs to tie the game up at 7 all. RBIs came from Tommy Crider (Belmont) and Cole Christman (John A. Logan) and the pair proved to be the key to sending the Chili Peppers to extra innings for the first time in team history. 

The Pilots drove home two runs in the tenth and called on Michael Falko (St. Joseph’s) to close the game down. He did so successfully, converting on his first save opportunity of the season. 

Looking to snap a six game losing streak, Tri-City will head to War Memorial Stadium, looking to pick up their second win of the summer against Peninsula. 

First pitch is set for 7 p.m. For more information, check out chilipeppersbaseball.com, and follow the team on social media for all the latest news and updates.