Colonial Heights, VA - For the first time this season, playing at their beloved Shepard Stadium wasn't enough for the Tri-City Chili Peppers to win. The team suffered their first home loss and their first shutout of the season with a 8-0 loss against in-state rivals the Peninsula Pilots.

William & Mary right-handed pitcher Rojo Prarie made his Chili Peppers debut on the mound last night. Prarie pitched the first four innings of Sunday's Faith & Family night, with an admirable nine strikeouts. However, the Pilots put up two runs in these first four innings.

Peninsula's bats were hot in this matchup, with a run in the first and another in the second. Tri-City, who are used to having a strong offensive performance, had an off night at the plate on Sunday. Their first of two hits came in the fourth with a single by UNC's Brandon Eike. 

The Chili Peppers held the Pilots in the fourth, but when James Draughn of Franklin Pierce University took over on the hill in the fifth inning, Peninsula advanced their lead with three runs. One of these runs came as a result of a wild pitch, while another came from a two run home run.

Jackson Walker (Franklin Pierce University), Troy Shepard (Catawba Valley Community College), and Wyatt Stanley (Randolph Macon College) all had their chance to pitch for Tri-City in the following three innings, and all three held the Pilots to maintain the 5-0 score. Shepard and Stanley both pitched three up, three down.

"Our pitchers still came in and threw strikes," head coach James Bierlein said. "The Peninsula Pilots did a good job. They got good hits and some timely hits when they needed them."

University of New Mexico's Terrell Hudson came out of the bullpen in the ninth, allowing three more runs. The Chili Peppers attempted to redeem themselves in the ninth inning, but only had one single by Hunter Gilliam (University of Kentucky) for an 8-0 final score.

"We'll be back here on Wednesday and we'll bring the same energy," Bierlein said about the loss. "It's a long season, it's baseball. We're not worried at all."

After two days of rest, the Chili Peppers will return to Shepard Stadium on Wednesday for their Waggin' Wednesday matchup against the Martinsville Mustangs.