Colonial Heights, VA – The Tri-City Chili Peppers fell short in their comeback attempt to in-state rivals the Peninsula Pilots in the team’s July 3 Independence Day Celebration. Tri City lost 7-5 in front of a franchise record crowd.

Both the Pilots and the Chili Peppers batted three up, three down in the first inning of Sunday’s game. However, Peninsula’s bats got moving in the second. They hit a home run off of starting pitcher Connor Handy (University of New Orleans) to take the lead. Elon’s Willie Havens hit a single for Tri City in the second, but was unable to score.

Peninsula advanced their lead with another run in the third, while the Chili Peppers didn’t put up any hits or runs. Both teams batted three up, three down again in the fourth inning, with the offensive highlight of the inning being a single by Greg Ryan (Longwood University).

The Pilots had their best offensive performance in the fifth, putting up four runs including a three-run home run. James Draughn (Franklin Pierce University) came out of the bullpen to get the final out. Tri City remained scoreless with no hits or runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Franklin Pierce University’s Jackson Walker took over on the mound in the top of the sixth, allowing one run and two hits for a 7-0 Pilots lead. Four walks and an error allowed the Chili Peppers to put up two unearned runs in the sixth.

Tri City had another pitching change in the seventh to Thomas Greeson of Gordon State College, who held Peninsula to no hits or runs. Unfortunately, the Chili Peppers were unable to continue their scoring streak, batting three up, three down.

Colin Yablonski (Coastal Carolina) took the hill for the final two innings of Sunday’s game. He allowed one hit in the eighth, but prevented the Pilots from advancing their lead. After walking to start the bottom of the inning, Avery Neaves (University of Lynchburg) was able to score thanks to a double by Yablonski’s Coastal Carolina teammate Derek Bender.

Yablonski pitched three up, three down in the ninth to keep hopes of a Chili Peppers comeback alive. Tri City had only one hit in the ninth, a single by Virginia Tech’s Cade Swisher. Despite only one hit, the team put up two runs, falling 7-5.