After traveling to Outer Banks the night before and taking a 7-5 decision against the Daredevils, the Pilots welcomed the visiting Daredevils to War Memorial Stadium for a inner-division showdown.   An outstanding pitching performance by the Peninsula pitchers would earn them a 3-2 victory in a game that saw a combined 10 hits.

After trading runs in the first, the Pilots would come in the fourth to score two more off MIke Lebo.  Chris Diaz' error allowed lead-off batter Mike Mergenthaler (Richmond) to reach base and advance to second.  Following a Jimmy Rider (Kent State) sac-bunt that moved Mergenthaler to third, Ivan Hartle (Western Kentucky) would hit a RBI sac-fly to right to score the go-ahead run.  Left fielder Sam Feiner would then lose a fly ball in the lights, allowing Will Lamb (Clemson) to slide safely into second for a double.  Lamb would then score the Pilots third run with a David Coleman (Virginia) RBI single to left.

The Daredevils would struggle with the arms of the Pilots' pitchers.  Making his seventh start, Jharel Cotton (Miami Dade C.C.) would hardly see a Daredevil batter on base as he would go 5 1/3 inning allowing just three hits.  Cotton would strikeout nine batters including striking out the side in the fourth and fifth.  Cotton would be replaced by Kevin McKague (Army) who would come in with bases loaded in the sixth.   McKague's arsenal included a 95 mph fastball and a destructive slider that turned away the next two batters to end the threat

Outer Banks would make things interesting in the ninth scoring a run and putting a man on first with two outs.  Pinch hitter Tucker Frawley would then take a McKague pitch to the outskirts of the infield but shortstop Jimmy Rider would make an incredible play-planting his foot and throwing 120 feet to first baseman Mike Mergenthaler.  The save would be McKague's first and Cotton's third, improving to 3-2 while Mike Lebo was dealt the loss, his third.

The Pilots would connect for seven hits off of two Daredevil pitchers while restricting Outer Banks to just three hits. 

Peninsula's win is its fifth in a row, improving its record in the second half to 11-6.  Friday night's win paired with a Petersburg victory over Edenton and a Wilson win over WIlmington, the Pilots share first place with the Tobs in the North Division.  Peninsula finishes off the stretch before the All-Star break at home Saturday night as they face the Florence Redwolves at 7. 

The Peninsula Pilots are part of the Coastal Plain League which is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 800 alumni drafted and 36 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at www.coastalplain.com